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THE ROCK 

A STORY OF THE WAR 


BY 

A REBEL 


U) (XJxASJ~K£-^L^ 



BROADWAY PUBLISHING COMPANY 
835 Broadway, New York 




Copyright, 1913 , 

BY 

Bradfute Warwick. 


■ft A'J-o 

©CIA34 7353 


Personal acts and incidents in the lives of each unit 
which composes an army of Americans are the most 
interesting phase of its history. This is not the case 
with any other army in the world. Each soldier, an 
intelligent entity, after being led into action, ma- 
noeuvres and fights the battle from his own viewpoint, 
and hence the ever-increasing interest to the student 
of war history. This was emphatically true of the 
Confederate soldier, and to appreciate him you must 
not separate him from this characteristic. 

The common soldier is subject to the greatest dan- 
gers in battle, and in the light of that peculiar char- 
acteristic, who will have the temerity to say that he 
is not intuitively guided. The writer, a boy of seven- 
teen years of age, member of Longstreet’s corps, 
fronting “Gulps Hill” at Gettysburg, felt the sting of 
defeat at the command “forward !” 

The personal incidents in the lives and experiences 
of two Confederate soldiers, after the lapse of nearly 
half a century, who were active participants in all 
the battles fought by the army of Northern Virginia, 
the first battle of Manassas only excepted, with slight 
embellishments in tragedy and romance, constitute the 
basis of the story. Its inspiration is, first, to amuse 
the old soldiers of both armies, by renewing their 
youth — so to speak, — transforming them into boys 
again, and, retrospecting, travel in memory the historic 
places of the long past, in dear old Virginia, and wit- 
ness the scenes of battles, terrible now to contemplate. 


Second, give to the children of my fellow comrades 
and their grandchildren a piquant story of the fol- 
lowers of the illustrious Lee, Longstreet and Jackson, 
also to while away the twilight now fast gathering in 
the path of the writer, one of the loyal and ardent 
defenders of our beloved Southland. 

Sincerely yours, 

BRADFUTE WARWICK, 
Orderly Sergt . i%th Ga. Regt. 


INTRODUCTORY . 


THE FIRST SHOT. 

So-called history records April 12, 1861, as the date 
of the first shot of the War, and charges the South 
with having fired it, but truth, which is history only, 
says, “That the first shot of the War was fired by Old 
John Brown, Kansas’ Jayhawker, nearly two years 
before, at Harper’s Ferry, Va. Brown, incited and en- 
couraged by Northern Abolition Societies, hypocriti- 
cal women, sensational and fanatical sky-pilots, wear- 
ing the livery of Heaven, but really and truly the 
vicegerents of His Satanic Majesty.” 

The South suffering from all the calumnies and 
wrongs which a hellish hate and envy could engender, 
deliberated, weighed and meditated upon her wrongs, 
still appealing to the conscience of the North for jus- 
tice, which of right was hers. “Asking for bread, she 
was given a stone, and for a fish, she was given a 
serpent.” As supplicants and equal members of the 
family board of States, these Southern sisters were 
tabooed and ostracised by her “more holy than thou” 
Northern sisters, and at last, goaded to desperation, 
to save her self-respect and the honor of her chivalrous 
Sons, she replied to the shot of Old John Brown, aimed 
at her vital existence, as component parts of a Union 
of equal states, though her gun was trained on Ft. 
Sumter in Charleston harbor, South Carolina. 

The South had observed the scriptual injunction, 


“When smitten on one cheek, turn the other also.” 
Every insult and indignity that the Devil could inspire 
was offered and pressed with hysterical insistence, and 
borne by the South in sisterly devotion and feeling, 
while Northern hatred, born of jealousy and envy, 
grew in intensity and malignity as the years sped by. 

Old John Brown was deified for his beastly and 
traitorous act, his name made glorious in song, his 
praises rung through all the Northern churches, “John 
Brown’s body lies mouldering in the ground,” etc. 
His loathsome carcass, which yielded up its spirit at 
the end of a hangman’s rope, was disinterred in great 
pomp and, with spectacular and bizarre pageantry, re- 
moved to a great Northern city for the convenience 
of his admirers, that they might gain inspiration and 
new hate of the South, by visiting the sepulchre of his 
traitorous bones. 

The South fought the fanatics of the whole world, and 
for four long years maintained the unequal struggle for 
Southern independence and constitutional government, 
as framed and handed down to us by the fathers of 
1776, and lost temporarily by mere attrition. Some 
writers and speakers of the present day are pleased to 
call the failure of the South “The Lost Cause,” but 
not so! The South contended for a God-given prin- 
ciple, which is immortal and will live on and on 
through years to come; there will come a day when 
the descendants of the Confederate soldiers will save 
this country from anarchy and disintegration! This 
much I have said for truth’s sake, and will now take up 
the thread of my story of the War, for the benefit of 
the surviving Confederates and their children and 
grandchildren. 























































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An Important Discovery. 


(Front is) 


THE ROCK 


CHAPTER I. 

THE SOUTH IN l86l. 

The writer and Bert Claxton were classmates in a 

high school, preparatory to a college course at 

Georgia, when a patriotic wave swept the country, as 
the simoom sweeps the desert! This was in the year 
1861. It was a momentous era in the history of the 
country. Young boys at school and college left their 
hooks and desks without consulting their preceptors, 
to join volunteer companies organizing in every com- 
munity. Clerks left their counting-rooms, artisans 
their shops, farmers their plows standing in their fur- 
rows ; every peaceful vocation ceased as if by magic. 
The drum and fife, heard in every hamlet from the 
Potomac to the Rio Grande, were the only inspiration. 
Not a voice in remonstrance was heard, and, if so, it 
was drowned by the bugle-blast of a martialed popu- 
lace. The time for action had come. The country pre- 
sented the unique spectacle of a vast military camp. 

Such was the state of public sentiment, when Bert 
1 


2 


THE ROCK 


and the writer joined a local company that was organ- 
izing in the community, and was later received in and 
composed a part of the 18th Georgia Regiment. Two 
or three weeks were spent in the camps of instruction 

at Harmony Church Grove in County, where 

we were the recipients of wagon-loads of good 
things sent in by the patriotic ladies of the surrounding 
country, who also made our uniforms, visited the camps 
each day to see us drill, and brought delicacies in great 
abundance. 

The 1 8th Georgia was organized at Camp McDon- 
nell, in Cobb County, Georgia, to which point we were 
ordered in June, with the following regimental officers : 
Col. W. T. Wofford, Lieut.-Col. S. Z. Ruff, Maj. W. H. 
Johnson and John C. Griffis. Adjutant-Col. Wofford, 
brave and fearless, without military training or educa- 
tion, was subsequently promoted to Brigadier-General, 
and survived the war. Lieut.-Col. Ruff was command- 
ing in appearance, a fine tactitian, and strict disciplin- 
arian ; he drilled the regiment and brought it up to a 
high standard of proficiency. He was made Colonel 
after Wofford’s promotion to Brigadier-General, and 
fell in the assault on Ft. Saunders, at Knoxville, Tenn., 
in November, 1863. Major Johnson, a burden to his 
horse, soon resigned, but Adjutant Griffis, conspicuous 
for his coolness and courage, was faithful to the end. 

Fierce was the strife during the years of 1862-63 and 
’64. Many were the battles fought, and severe cam- 
paignings, while death thinned our ranks, by disease 
and casualties on the battlefield. October, 1864, found 
us, a few battle-scarred veterans, remnant of a once 
superb company of 100 men or boys — rather, part 
of Longstreet’s corps to which our regiment belonged 
— before Petersburg, Va. From there we were or- 


THE ROCK I 


3 


dered to the Shenandoah Valley to reinforce General 
Early, who was hard pressed by General Sheridan, 
with overwhelming forces. In good time, we met Gen- 
eral Early, who had retired up the Valley as far as the 
town of Strasburg, twenty miles from Winchester. 
Here, with the small reinforcements he had received, 
he proposed to fight, and, turning on his pursuers, as- 
sumed the offensive. At night, on the 18th of October, 
1864, we quietly broke camp, and at midnight moved 
out through the town of Strasburg, which was totally 
deserted, marching on through fields, woods, ravines, 
branches and creeks. At the first ray of light from the 
east we assaulted the enemy in their camps, surprising, 
killing, routing and capturing a large number of pris- 
oners. We drove them in great disorder for at least 
five miles, shooting down the fleeing remnants of two 
army corps. Our loss was very slight, but the enemy’s 
was heavy. Our victory was thus far complete, but 
the full fruits of our great success were thrown 
away or lost to us by a fatal delay of General Early, 
in not pushing on vigorously while we had them on 
the rout, causing delay which emboldened our men to 
return to the rich spoils of the camps we had captured 
early in the action. But before passing, I wish to add 
my testimony to the unfading lustre achieved by Gen- 
eral Early, in a bold plan conceived and successfully 
executed. It was one of the most brilliant movements 
in which the writer ever took part. The enemy was 
completely surprised at the first streak of approaching 
dawn, with scarcely time to fire an alarm gun, while we 
were climbing over their breastworks, and pouring 
into their camps before they could dress. Men and 
officers fled, en dishabille , without arms; pants and 
coats in their hands they ran for dear life, while we 


4 


THE ROCK 


pursued and shot them down by the hundreds. At 
the memory of this battle my heart sickens yet. 

This battle is noted in so-called history as having 
given General Sheridan some horseback exercise, 
which the writer knows to be nothing but a fake ; and 
in proof of my statement will say that, only two days 
after I had penned these lines, Sydney Herbert, on 
September the 8th, published an article in the Sunday 
Savannah Morning News, on the (Famous Fake Ride) 
of Sheridan, from Winchester to the battlefield of 
Cedar Creek, in which he clearly shows that there was 
no foundation in fact for such a story. If General 
Sheridan had ridden at the breakneck speed reported, 
he would not have had with him, when he arrived on 
the scene, a single escort, and old Jube Early would 
have sent him flying back faster than he came. 

We now lost all and more than we gained, as the 
army of Early’s was fatally halted, and so we waited 
while the enemy brought up fresh troops and reorgan- 
ized the fleeing and panic-stricken masses. Late in the 
evening heavy columns of fresh troops were pitted 
against our thin line in the centre, and after a desper- 
ate struggle our men were forced to yield to the pres- 
sure of superior numbers. The whole line was ordered 
to retire, and for some distance maintained good 
order. Once in the woods, however, every man took 
care of himself. Bert and the writer brought up the 
rear. In passing through an old field, five or six cav- 
alrymen rode up to the fence, and when within fifty 
yards ordered us to halt. We refused and ran to the 
fence on the opposite side and fell over — not touched, 
though fifty shots must have been fired at us. Here 
we lay prone on the ground watching the cavalrymen, 
who seemed to be deliberating as to their course of ac- 


THE ROCK 


5 

tion. Certainly we must have hit those Johnnies ; we 
felt that we ought to go and see how badly they were 
wounded. One rider dismounted and pulled off a few 
rails, then, remounting, came into the field, the others 
following. Bert said : “Brady, let’s give them a part- 
ing shot.” Waiting until they came within fifty yards 
of us, we deliberately fired at our pursuers. Two men 
plunged to the ground, while the others got back to the 
woods from whence they came, only at a different 
speed. We tarried no longer at that place, but made 
our way to the Shenandoah River, reaching there at 
twilight; pushing our way up the river, we found a 
shoaly place, tied our clothes on our heads, waded in 
and plunged across the swift current between the 
rocks that jutted up above the waters. We narrowly 
escaped being swept into the deeps below, and with 
much difficulty landed on the other shore. 

Upon reaching the other side of the stream we set 
out for the mountain ridge which separated the Shen- 
andoah and the Luray Valleys. ^ It was now dark, 
though the moon was peering through the tree-tops, 
making it easy for us to see our way out of the woods. 
On and on we traveled and soon came into the road 
at the foot of the mountain. To our great delight, we 
found Lieutenant Crumley, of the 24th Georgia, and 
eight men sitting on the roadside, discussing the di- 
lemma, and how we could rejoin our commands. 
After much parleying, the consensus of opinion was 
that we take the road leading back to Strasburg, the 
point from which we started on the night previous. 
Bert and I demurred to this proposition, arguing that 
the enemy was now in possession of that place, and if 
we went back there we would all be captured. We did 
not wish to starve in prison until the war ended. Our 


6 


l THE ROCK 


comrades, however, went on into Strasburg, and met 
the fate we predicted. The cartel of exchange was 
broken by the Yankee government, and could not be 
induced to renew it, preferring to starve Southern 
soldiers rather than fight them. 


CHAPTER II. 


A DILEMMA. 

We were two soldier boys, seventeen years old, sit- 
ting alone on the highway. The moon shed her silvery 
light in subdued brightness, as if in sympathy with our 
forlorn condition ; not a sound of anything greeted our 
anxious ears, save the low murmurings of the waters 
at the shoals, where we had just crossed the river. Our 
loneliness was burdensome. The occasional hoot of an 
owl startled us. At length, in subdued tones, we began 
to debate the question as to whether we would follow 
on after our comrades, who had left us for the town of 
Strasburg, or ascend the mountain ridge, and rest until 
day, where we would not be molested, and where we 
could make observations on the morrow as to the rela- 
tive position of the respective armies in the valleys 
(below. 

“This is the proper thing for us to do,” said Bert. 
With laborious effort we soon gained the mountain 
top, and on the summit spread our blankets over the 
dry oak leaves. Covering with a tent-fly and gum- 
cloth which the writer carried, we threw ourselves 
down to sleep. Looking up at the starry canopy, 
we thought of home, of father, mother, brothers and 
loving sisters ; of our vacant rooms far away in 
Georgia, which we were wont to occupy; of childish 
scenes, romping and playing through beautiful woods 
and fields of snowy cotton, through branches and 

7 


8 


THE ROCK 


creeks ; of schoolmates, friends and relatives who 
poured out their life’s blood upon the altar of our be- 
loved Southland, on so many fields of carnage and 
death. Then, with a silent prayer to the Infinite One 
for protection, we fell into a refreshing sleep and happy 
dreamland. With nothing to molest our much-needed 
repose, Nature held us firmly in her restoring arms 
until the sun was well up above the tallest mountain- 
top, and the touch of His rays was causing the tall, 
hairy-like frost to dissolve in liquid form again. 

Quietly making the toilet of the soldier, which con- 
sisted of rolling our blankets and adjusting our ac- 
coutrements, we made reconnoissance of the valleys 
below. 

To get a better view we climbed the trees. We could 
clearly see large bodies of the enemy pushing up the 
Shenandoah Valley, and by this we knew that General 
Early had been forced to retire, leaving our former po- 
sition in the possession of the enemy. We now re- 
solved ourselves into a committee of “Ways and 
Means.” 

The only practical thing we could do was to con- 
tinue our retrogade movements along the top of the 
mountain ridge in the direction of New Market, a small 
town higher up the Shenandoah Valley, then descend 
and join our command. Before we started, a small 
squad of Yankee cavalry, foraging in the valley below, 
catching sight of us, fired several shots at us, which 
came so menacingly near as to render our position 
untenable ; so we moved over to the Luray side of the 
mountain for protection, as we were not in position 
to return their fire. 

Bert, always resourceful, said: “Brady, come here 
and look at this cleft in the side of the mountain.” I 


THE ROCK 


9 


saw an opening into the side of the mountain, easy of 
access. We entered, and began to explore by the aid of 
a lighted candle, which Bert had taken from the 
abandoned camps and sutler stores, early in the battle 
of the day before. To our amazement and delight, 
there was revealed a spacious room with smooth floor 
and large enough to accommodate a company of sol- 
diers. With reverence and thanks to the builder of so 
attractive a habitat, we at once took possession of the 
ideal hiding-place. We felt safe and secure. Carry- 
ing large quantities of dry oak leaves into our new- 
found home for bedding, we took formal possession, 
after filling our canteens from a spring near by, which 
trickled from the mountain side, cool and refreshing. 
From a menu of hard tack and water, gastronomical 
satiety was satisfied. I admonished Bert to be careful 
with matches, and expressed the fear that our quarters 
might be our holocaust, in the event of the dry leaves 
which covered the mountain taking fire. This was a 
common occurrence at this season of the year — pre- 
senting at night a weird and grotesque sight. I was 
reminded of the fable of “The Fox in the Bramble. ,, 

Spending three days and nights in “The Rock,” mak- 
ing daily observations of the enemy’s cavalry, and 
seeing only an occasional straggler, we discussed the 
propriety of taking a shot at them, as they passed in 
easy range of our trusted Enfield rifles. By long prac- 
tice, either of us could hit a man at every shot four 
hundred yards away. But our commissariat being de- 
pleted to a handful of cracker crumbs, admonished us 
not to stir up trouble until he could look around and 
replenish. We could see a few cavalrymen daily scour- 
ing the country, which made it hazardous for us to 


(10 


l THE ROCK 


venture down the valley, or to attempt to visit any 
habitation, all of which were on the main thoroughfare 
running up the valley. For three days and nights we 
subsisted alone on chestnuts and hickory nuts, which 
grew in great profusion on the top and sides of the 
mountain. At length, distraught by hunger, which 
overcame our fear of capture, the writer ventured 
along the mountain top for about a mile, when, to my 
inexpressible delight, I discovered late in the evening 
what appeared to me a stream of hazy smoke rising 
above the treetops toward the main highway. I 
hastened back to “The Rock,” and made known to 
Bert my discovery — a possible habitation with living 
occupants and perchance a loyal Virginia gentleman 
and wife, true and faithful to the cause of our South- 
land, and, if so, something to appease our consuming 
hunger. Up to the present time, neither of us had ever 
known or felt in reality. 

Taking our arms and haversacks, we proceeded to 
where the smoke was seen, and cautiously descended 
the mountain top into the valley, wending our way 
along its base until we came to a clearing, in full view 
of a fine old mansion, antique in style and massive in 
structure. The sun was fast sinking behind the pic- 
turesque Blue Ridge mountains, and as we must re- 
turn to “The Rock” before night-fall, what we were 
to do had to be done quickly. Increasing our pace, 
presently an apple orchard presented itself to our 
view; to our joy and gratification, the ground under 
each tree was literally covered with the reddest and 
most delicious fruit for which this part of Virginia is 
proverbially noted, as all soldiers who fought in the 
Shenandoah Valley can testify. 

Seating ourselves under one of the trees, we began 


WME ROCK 


it 


to eat apples as only starved soldiers can ! At first, tak- 
ing them as they came in reach, we ate one, then 
another, which Bert declared to be better, and then 
another, and so on, until gastronomical satiety ad- 
monished us, that we had arrived at the ultimate. Now 
filling our haversacks with the choicest we could find, 
we hurried back to “The Rock.” Never were two 
lonely boys more happy, and we soon fell sound 
asleep. How long we had slept, neither knew, but late 
in the night, suddenly and in the most startling man- 
ner, we were recalled from dreamland. 

“What is that, Brady?” asked Bert coarsely. We 
both rose to sitting posture, as if electrified, every fibre 
and nerve strung to the highest tension ; we sat trans- 
fixed, neither of us could speak or move. There are 
sounds that are as fatal to life as a dagger to the heart. 
When reason at length restored the normal condition, 
we thought we were in a menagerie, where all kinds of 
wild beasts are kept, and it seemed that they were rush- 
ing to devour us. Bert said : “Get your gun,” and then 
struck a match, lighting a small piece of sperm candle. 
The true situation was at last revealed! We had 
usurped the den of all the vicious animals in the moun- 
tains, and held them prisoners until hunger had forced 
them to make an attempt at freedom. Now they 
pressed towards the opening in vast numbers. We 
hurled them back on the flock with our bayonets, but 
they massed their forces for a final charge ! On to us 
they came in overwhelming numbers. We felt that we 
were doomed! We backed against the wall and thus 
left the opening unguarded. They rushed out madly, 
in large numbers, and scampered off down the moun- 
tain. We were no more troubled with Reynard and 


12 


THE ROCK 


his forces, but for a long time our tenure was of 
doubtful propriety. There were foxes of all kinds, 
wild cats and jackals, coons and woodchucks, and, 
for aught we knew, panther and bear. 


CHAPTER III. 


AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. 

As our supply of apples pleasantly though sorrow- 
fully diminished, we had recourse to the orchard 
again. On the evening of the 26th of October, 1864, 
we sallied forth as before, in quest of more supplies. 
They were necessary sinews of war! We descended 
the mountain at the same point, approached and en- 
tered the orchard as before, and began to eat and at 
the same time renew our decimated haversacks. When 
this was accomplished, we sat down to finish our re- 
past before going back to “The Rock/’ as it was now 
twilight and the shadows were deepening about us. 

Quietly, but surely, Erebus was clothing all Nature 
in her sombre mantle, while the mountain, with her 
sable vestment drawn about her, seemed like some 
great giantess amidst pigmies. The stillness was pain- 
ful, and only broken by the uncanny hooting of a 
mountain owl, from his perch in the gloomy fastnesses 
of the mountain, which seemed to ask in diaphanous 
tones, “hoo-hoo-hoo are you ?” — and immediately after 
came the answer from another direction, “Thieves.” 
But these naughty birds were now silenced by other 
songsters. 

We heard, for the first time in nearly four years, the 
delightful sound of female voices in mellifluent accents 
floating out on the cool autumnal air, in liquid and sub- 
dued cadences, which seemed to rise and fall, gather- 


! THE ROCK 


H 

ing force and volume, and echoing back for our delec- 
tation. Electrified, transfixed, and hypnotized, not an 
apple was bitten, nor a word was spoken ; our eyes 
were strained in the direction from whence came what 
was, to us, heavenly music. We knew that the singers 
were beautiful young ladies, as the voice is the true 
index to the feminine soul, and hence we waited with 
bated breath to catch a glimpse of them. On and on 
they came, nearer and nearer. Slowly, to our ravished 
ears, in tender pathos, came the soul-stirring strains of 
“Dixie.” It made our hearts pulsate with joy im- 
measurable, as the martial melody rose and swelled 
with patriotic inflection to the words: “Look away, 
look away, look away down South in Dixie.” Bert 
turned his face for the first time since hearing the 
voices so enchanting, and said : “Brady, did you ever 
hear sweeter voices?” I could not reply to this ques- 
tion ; something seemed to choke me, and I wondered 
if, in my abstraction, I had swallowed an apple whole. 

And now, to our utter bewilderment and delight, 
we beheld two lovely girls walking arm in arm. They 
stopped now and then and scanned the ground, as if 
something had been lost; then, with quickened pace, 
came on in a direct line to where we were sitting, as 
yet unobserved by them — two as ragged and reckless 
rebel boys as ever wore the gray. Involuntarily we 
arose as their eyes fell on us. They threw up their 
hands, and, stepping backward, exclaimed : “Oh my !” 
With instinctive Southern grace and chivalry, we 
tipped our caps and bowed. Seeing our jackets of 
gray, torn and faded, they joyfully cried out: “Con- 
federates, our men.” 

“Yes,” said Bert. “Both of us are Confederates. 
We are ragged and hungry, and have had nothing 


THE ROCK 


15 

to eat but nuts and apples for the past six days. You 
will please pardon us for this intrusion, or allow us 
to make reparation for our trespassing. In the rout 
of our army on the 19th inst. we were cut off and 
lost from our command, and since then we have wan- 
dered in the mountains. The craving of hunger drove 
us here in search of something to sustain life! We 
have shelter and refuge in “The Rock,” a cleft in 
yonder mountain’s side, until we can, with safety, ven- 
ture to join our comrades. We were here yesterday 
also, and have fared sumptuously since. We were so 
charmed by your sweet songs and beautiful voices that 
we dared not move. So we waited for you to catch the 
culprits, that we might see you, and learn some news 
of our army. But pray tell us where you live and 
your names — please !” 

The elder spoke: “We live in yonder mansion, with 
father and mother. Our two brothers, John and Ed- 
gar, are with General Rosser. My name is Thelma 
Dearing, and this, my sister, is Gladys Dearing.” 

Each extended a hand to us, and asked our names 
and to what command we belonged. Bert replied: 
“My name is Bert Claxton, and my comrade is Brad- 
fute Warwick, whom we call Brady for euphony’s 
sake.” Both greeted us cordially, and beheld us with 
pity, as they saw our dilipidated condition. While we 
stood facing them, overwhelmed with shame, not dar- 
ing to turn our unprotected rear, the writer said: 
“You made us cry when we heard your sweet voice 
singing ‘Dixie/ for it is the war-song of the South, 
an inspiration to deeds of heroism and death. In our 
present forlorn and lost condition, to hear it sung by 
two lovely young ladies as you are, made us forget our 
sadness and we wept for very joy ; we know you are 


i6 


THE ROCK 


loyal and true to our Southland. Then, too, it made 
us think of home, of days long gone past — of sisters, 
and mother, far away in the fleecy cotton fields of dear 
old Georgia, and of the songs we were accustomed to 
sing there, in our palatial homes, of innocent and joy- 
ous childhood — and so we gave way to that comfort- 
ing emotion which alone can bring relief. 

Thelma Dearing, eighteen years of age, form rather 
slight, graceful, dignified, refined and intellectual ; 
eyes, deep cerulean blue ; complexion a light blond ; 
voice low, sweet and tender, plied us with questions 
concerning the late battle, exhibiting a knowledge of 
the art of war unusual in feminine nature of such 
tender years. They were dressed in the height of Con- 
federate fashion, in homespun cotton, made from the 
raw material with their own unskilled hands, and from 
the latest fashion plate, “a la Richmond/’ and, to our 
seeming, no Queen or Princess was ever arrayed like 
one of these. 

And Gladys! With the author’s imperfect knowl- 
edge of only one language at his command, a pen- 
picture is an impossible task! Were I master of all 
languages of earth, and thus equipped should attempt 
only to outline her appearance to me on that occasion, 
their paucity would be apparent. But the reader ex- 
pects it of me, and, handicapped, I must make a feeble 
effort. 

At the blooming age of sixteen years, a rose of the 
rarest bud, evolved in the garden of Nature, the most 
perfect handiwork of the Infinite One, the impress of 
the master mind in every lineament and feature, the 
adorning of the body and mind day by day with all 
loveliness and every grace in abandon, she stood 
before us, the embodiment of all that is good, pure, 


THE ROCK 


17 


lovely and heavenly, a perfect woman — the greatest 
gift of God to man. A most beautiful brunette, 
medium in stature, straight, plump in figure, features 
round, cheeks as red as the apples that lay at her feet ; 
silken black hair, falling in wavy ringlets over her 
shoulders and reaching the waist line ; eyes round and 
large, jet black and sparkling as diamonds, kindness 
and sympathy predominating. I felt as I looked into 
those fathomless liquid orbs that slowly and surely I 
was being drowned in merciful tenderness and sym- 
pathy, with no thought of protest — like the bird be- 
fore the fatal charms of its destroyer. 

An interested listener to all that was said, Gladys 
stood, with her arms around her sister; a glimmer of 
daring and vengeance emitting from those large limpid 
orbs, she heard us tell of hardships and dangers, 
hunger and privations. Great crystal drops of tears 
tumbled down her rosy cheeks in rapid succession. 
She had just graduated with high honors from a 
Female College at Staunton, Va., where she was 
awarded the highest prize in literature and music. 
The insignia she wore on her bosom. 

“You are weak and exhausted from want and ex- 
posure. Good food, which we have in abundance, will 
soon restore you to your wonted strength and energy ; 
also a warm bed is preferable to your cold mountain 
rocks.” Gladys all the time nodded her massive head 
of black ringlets in hearty approval of what her sister 
had said, and deftly tossing back a stray curl pur- 
posely displaced, revealed a snow-white tapering arm, 
to our admiration. 

Bert said: “My dear good friends, we cannot, in 
just terms, express to you our keen appreciation and 
deep gratitude for your very kind and patriotic offer, 


i8 


THE ROCK 


and, besides, we are completely overcome by your 
kindness and sympathy for us, and regretting the 
Circumstances that mould and make our decision, I 
know you will pardon our declination. Again, our 
business is not to seek the comforts of life, but to do 
our simple duty in the arena of war. We are lookin’ 
for the enemy to defeat and kill ; though it is not our 
nature to be cruel, we must do our duty, and not shirk 
it. Before the risings and settings of many suns we 
hope to be with our command in the midst of the 
fight. 

“If we should accept your kind offer we would 
not feel free to act, unless we should find a mis- 
creant mistreating some of the family. Should the 
enemy enter your home and find us, blood would be 
shed at once, for we do not propose to be captured, 
and languish in prison. We will fight whenever we 
get the chance. Should we encounter a band of 
stragglers on your father’s place, and kill a man or 
two, it would bring fearful results to the entire 
family. This we must guard against, as a matter of 
the gravest consideration, otherwise your beautiful 
home would be razed, and other atrocities too awful 
to contemplate might follow. Your proffered hos- 
pitality, offered in the goodness and kindness of 
your patriotic hearts, is well intended, we know, 
and under different circumstances it would be rude 
and impolite in us not to accept. Nothing would 
please us more than to be in your delightful pres- 
ence, and that of your good parents. But your 
generous benefactions to us shall never be the cause, 


(THE ROCK 


19 

immediate or remote, of harm to two such lovely 
girls as you !” 

Gladys, who had remained silent up to the pres- 
ent, approached nearer to us and said: “But you 
must have food. You cannot live alone on apples. 
You are very feeble now, and soon you will fall by 
the wayside from exhaustion and starvation, and die 
in the mountains. You must go with us! We will 
keep the vigils while you sleep and recuperate in 
strength. The enemy needs all his troops at the 
front, and you will not be disturbed or molested 
while you rest. It is now near mid-winter; we ex- 
pect snow and ice soon. I therefore implore you 
to no longer expose yourselves to the blasts of 
winter unnecessarily. Come with us — no harm 
shall befall you!” 

To this touching and irrresistible appeal Bert 
glanced at me as if to say: “Brady, what do you 
say?” 

I replied to them as follows: “My dears: — To our 
seeming, no argument you can make or inducement 
you can offer should avail on this occasion! You 
must remember that we are nothing but common 
soldiers, in a common cause, sworn to support the 
Constitution and laws of our country, in this her 
greatest crisis. Up to the present time we have un- 
complainingly and heroically met every obligation 
as such ; we are still willing to share with our com- 
rades the destinies that await us as true soldiers 
under the Stars and Bars. We are not looking for 
easy berths, but wish to be of the line and in the 
strife of battle to the end. These ragged uniforms 
fit us only for such duty and service as that in which 
;we glory ! If perchance we fall, ‘It’s only a private/ 


20 


THE ROCK 


and we desire no grander sepulchre than a mound 
on the field of battle — marked ‘A Confederate/ We 
do bless the hour in which we met you — beautiful, 
self-sacrificing daughters of the grand old common- 
wealth of Virginia. It will be an epoch in our lives 
never to be effaced from the tablets of memory! 
The scenes of this spot will be forever treasured as 
the brightest of earth ; the words spoken, a bene- 
diction to our souls. Already we feel a new strength 
imparted to us and a new inspiration moving our 
hearts ! 

“We have fathers, mothers, brothers and loving 
sisters, all praying for our safe return to our far- 
away Georgia homes; there we had every comfort. 
But now, clad in this ragged grey, of which we are 
proud, still it would be a desecration of your beauti- 
ful home for us to pass its portals. We care nothing 
for the comforts of life — are enured to hardships, care 
nothing for the cold and snow; devotion and duty 
to the cause we love are the noblest incentives of 
true soldiers. When we go back to ‘The Rock/ you 
will doubtless learn that we have resumed business/ , 

Soon as the writer ceased to speak, both of the 
young ladies pressed close to us, distraught with dis- 
appointment, eyes suffused with tears. With a ten- 
der tremor in her sweet voice, Gladys took up the 
argument for herself, sister and family, in one of the 
most pathetic and impassioned speeches to which the 
writer ever listened. To be appreciated, picture a 
most beautiful girl, sixteen years of age, intensely 
Southern in sentiment and feeling; her brothers in 
the army; father and mother, old and defenceless, 
with no one to protect them ; an insolent and threat- 


THE ROCK 


m 


ening enemy passing every day; knowing not what 
was in store for them at any moment, day or night! 
The brutality of the enemy in other parts of the 
country to unoffending old men and women and chil- 
dren was familiar history. Here is what she said : 

“Brave and faithful soldiers of our sunny south- 
land, to hear such expressions of devotion to duty 
sacred ; to witness such willing sacrifice to the cause 
we have espoused, and to know the pure and unselfish 
motives that prompt you, we feel that within the rag- 
ged jackets you wear pulsate chivalrous hearts, warm 
and tender; we know that your arguments are high 
and honorable, your motives sincere and ennobling, 
but you must remember that we are a part and parcel 
of the South, for which you endure suffering and 
march bravely to the Held of carnage and death! As 
such, are we not entitled to some consideration at 
your hands ? Especially as we are left in the rear of 
the enemy, and you are cut off and cannot join your 
command. Here are two old people, loyal and true, 
with their helpless girls, their proud sons, and our 
brothers are given to the armies of the South they 
love ! Oh, ye valiant sons of grand old Georgia, look 
on us, and think of your own sisters, in like situation 
and circumstances, pleading with two of our men to 
save them from a brutal and unprincipled enemy ! In 
infinite mercy it seems a special dispensation of 
Heaven — a decree of fate that ordered your steps. 
Will you not give heed to our earnest and special 
pleadings and our extremity, and accept our unsought 
hospitality and shield us from harm ?” 

Imagine our embarrassment if you can. There we 
were — two ragged, starved and unkempt soldier boys, 
eighteen years old, with long hair, which had not been 


22 


THE ROCK 


'disentangled for months, standing in the presence of 
two queens of the South and wondering all the time 
by what evolution of military tactics we could change 
our position, and whether by the left or right flank, 
without exposing our delapidated rear. 



A Thrilling Adventure. 


(Page 22) 












* 










































■ 









































CHAPTER IV. 


AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. 

Thelma, who had done the talking, now said : “We 
believe the story you have told us is true — that you 
are true and loyal soldiers of the Confederacy of 
Southern States. In the present situation of our 
army, it will be extremely hazardous for you to at- 
tempt to reach your command. We, too, are within 
the enemy's lines, with no one to protect us from in- 
sult and injury; father and mother are old and de- 
crepit. So you may be of great service to the family, 
as daily squads of marauders are passing our home. 
Up to the present time no insults have been offered, 
however; but we are always apprehensive of indig- 
nity to some member of the family, or the burning of 
our home, or sending father to a Northern prison. 
It is well known that he is a pronounced Southern 
man and that his boys are now in the Southern army 
and have been since the first tocsin was sounded. We 
cannot sleep from fear. 

“If you will accept our offer, we now make cheer- 
ful tender of our home and hospitality, and cordially, 
in father’s and mother’s name, bid you both come with 
us to the house. We were here on yesterday and saw 
your tracks in the orchard. Father surmised that 
some of Early’s men were cut off and lost in the 
mountains, and sent us forth to see if we could make 
any further discovery. We were purposely singing 


24 


THE ROCK 


as we came, thinking we might be heard by the lost 
ones. We knew that the strains of 'Bonnie Blue 
Flag' and ‘Dixie’ would prove our loyalty and bring 
you to us. We are so proud to have met you, and 
nothing would please father and mother more than to 
have you as our guests and aid in restoring your 
strength. It is now late, and father and mother will 
be anxious about us ; the sun is hid beyond the moun- 
tains, and the drapery of night, in silence, encompasses 
us. Brothers John and Edgar left two nice grey suits, 
caps and boots that will fit you as to measure made. 
They shall be yours.” With great delight beaming in 
her beautiful eyes she added : “You will be our boys — 
indeed, our little invincible army of Loveland.” Each 
taking us by the hand, they led us captive to the grand 
old mansion, known as Loveland, of which Mr. Dear- 
ing was postmaster. Bert now spoke: “Brady, it’s 
unconditional surrender.” 

We had gone but a little distance toward the man- 
sion when we were met by Mrs. Dearing. She was 
very much excited. Upon being introduced to us, she 
told us of a lone cavalryman sitting at the table in 
the kitchen, partaking of his supper, which he had 
politely asked of her. Bert replied: “That is our 
prisoner.” Walking to the door, he stepped into the 
kitchen, and remarked to the guest “that he must sub- 
mit himself to the care of the representatives of His 
Excellency, the President of the Confederate States 
of America.” It fairly paralyzed the man. Bert al- 
lowed him to finish his repast, but it was several min- 
utes before he could resume. Trembling from head 
to foot, his knife and fork beat a regular tattoo on his 
plate. I left him in Bert’s custody, and went to the 
front gate, and took charge of his horse and trap- 


THE ROCK 


25 


pings, which consisted of a sixteen-shooter, carbine 
and five hundred rounds of copper cartridges for the 
same, two large horsemen’s pistols, Colt’s make; an 
overcoat and raincoat and two large U. S. blankets. 

The young ladies had now come through the house 
with their father and mother. I was introduced ; both 
received me with great courtesy; thereupon I pre- 
sented to Mr. Dearing the horse, bridle and saddle 
from Jefferson Davis, President C.S.A. To which Mr. 
Dearing laughed heartily. “Is he not a beauty, papa?” 
said Thelma. Joe, a faithful slave who alone, out of 
more than one hundred, remained with his master and 
mistress, was given the care and custody of horse and 
equipage. 

At this moment we heard the metallic ring of 
horses’ hoofs on the stony pike. They were coming 
at a rapid pace. Bert and I thought we were in for 
some fun, so we took our place in the large verandah, 
ready for any emergency, should it be the enemy. 
Two men reined up their horses at the gate, and 
hailed in familiar tones. “It is brothers John and 
Edgar,” said the sisters in unison. Running to the 
gate, they embraced them tenderly; the father and 
mother followed, rejoiced to see them once more. In 
the exuberance of their joy, they seemed to forget my 
presence for the moment ; presently calling me to 
them, they introduced me to John and Edgar. Pass- 
ing into the kitchen, they made the acquaintance of 
Bert, who was joking with his prisoner. The man 
had recovered his composure and finished his meal. 

The girls told the circumstances of meeting us and 
the recent capture of the cavalryman with the en* 
thusiasm of veterans, which was thoroughly enjoyed 
by the brothers. They belonged to General Rosser’s 


2 6 


l THE ROCK 


cavalry command, who had sent them out, as they 
knew the country perfectly, to assist all stragglers 
back to their commands. 

The Dearings were well connected on both sides, 
Mr. Dearing being a relative of the noted Randolphs 
and Mrs. Dearing a direct descendant of the Stewart 
family. General J. E. B. Stewart was a frequent 
guest at the Dearing board when in touch with Love- 
land, by which name this part of Luray was known. 
Before the blighting hand of war had touched this 
goodly land, it was the home of a refined and wealthy 
class ; hospitable, high-spirited and chivalrous men ; 
beautiful, cultivated women, happy and progressive in 
material things, zealous in the unfoldment of moral 
and intellectual growth and development of Christian 
character ; all of which had been sacrificed to appease 
the fanatical and envious spirit of the North and 
satiate their thirst for Southern blood. 

John and Edgar Dearing, aged respectively twenty 
and twenty-two years, were dashing and impetuous 
soldiers, frolicsome and full of fun, eager to measure 
lances with the foe. They discussed with us the 
chances of getting back to our commands. They 
knew that it was attended with great danger of cap- 
ture, as they had been chased for miles by the enemy, 
and so they would not advise it at present. Later 
they hoped to return to see the loved ones, and per- 
chance would take us back with them there. The 
family and brothers went into the dining room, where 
a hearty feast was provided at the home of their child- 
hood. Supper being over, they bid us adieu, and, ar- 
dently embracing the loved ones, remounted their war 
steeds, and, with our prisoner behind John, rapidly 
returned in the direction #in which they came. 


WHE ROCK 


*7i 

It was now ten o’clock at night; the air was cool, 
crisp and clear ; the stars were vieing with each other 
in dazzling twinkles; now and then a meteor would 
shoot through the skies and disappear in space, as if 
playing hide-and-seek. All nature seemed happy ; the 
only disturbing factor was the masterpiece of God’s 
workmanship ; everything rebuked man’s endeavor to 
slay and kill his brother. 

Seated in a large, richly furnished drawing-room, 
Mr. and Mrs. Dearing were anxious to hear the de- 
tails of the late battle of the 19th. Bert related it 
minutely, to the evident satisfaction of all his listen- 
ers. Former campaigns in the valley were discussed 
by Mr. Dearing. He evinced a knowledge of the art 
of war creditable to a military critic. Stonewall 
Jackson was his ideal commander, possessing dash, 
untiring activity, energy and perseverance; striking 
the enemy a staggering blow unawares and repeating 
it before he had time to recover from its effects easily 
made him the greatest strategist in both armies. Mr. 
Dearing believed with many another that if Jackson 
had been in command of the Southern army in the 
first year of the war, Washington City would have 
fallen an easy prize to Southern arms. Jackson’s plan 
was to move into the enemy’s country and there mount 
his men, and by rapid marches capture city after city 
before sufficient forces could be mobilized to dispute 
him ; if found to be too strong, then to surround them 
and go on tearing up railroads, cutting communication 
with all parts of the country, and hence strike terror to 
the hearts of the people pf the North. From the 
writer’s observation, it was a feasible plan. 

Mr. Dearing contended that General Lee was too 
old and was surcharged with too much caution; he 


28 


THE ROCK 


thought Bob Toombs should have been President of 
the Confederacy. Contrast Jackson’s plan, which was 
Toombs’ also, with Davis’ and Lee’s — to fight only 
on the defensive, to annihilate one army — and then sit 
down and wait for another to be organized and drilled 
and equipped, with the whole world from which to 
draw while pitted against us, who were limited in 
men and sinews of war. All know now that it was 
this that defeated us, and by attrition depleted our 
numbers to a mere skeleton, as compared to theirs. 
So also thought Albert Sydney Johnston; had he lived 
he would have developed a great commander. N. B. 
Forrest and J. E. B. Stewart were the greatest cavalry 
commanders. Longstreet was severely criticised for 
his failure at Knoxville, Tenn. The writer being an 
active participant agreed with him in toto. 

Mrs. Dearing, finally interrupting us, said: “My 
dear, it is time to retire for the night.” At this sug- 
gestion, Mr. Dearing asked us to accompany him, and 
he would show us our room, as we looked tired, and 
sleep would refresh us. He led us into a large room 
with two bath-tubs, warm water, soap, washcloths 
and clean linen, warm underwear and the uniforms 
the girls had promised. He told us to make our ablu- 
tions, don the suits, boots and caps, and return to 
the drawing-room. Energetically we entered upon 
our task. Clothing in lustre our dirty skins by a 
vigorous application of the materials at hand, we 
robed ourselves in new, clean underwear, fine shirts, 
trousers and jackets. They fit us as custom made. 
Thereupon we proceeded to straighten the tangled 
mass of hair on our heads. It was long, falling over 
our shoulders in endless confusion. It was amusing 
to me to see Bert trying to force the comb through 


THE ROCK 


29 


his tresses, as his hair was of the finest texture and 
knots and stirrups had formed like those seen in a 
P colt’s mane. 

Once more, decently clad, our well-worn lingerie, 
as the ladies say, together with our non -persona grata 
companions, were dumped out at the window, never 
more to renew acquaintance. Bert said that we must 
hurry and return to the drawing-room, as requested 
by Mr. Dearing. 

“I am ready,” replied the writer. “Bert, you do 
look fine !” But in truth the knots stood all over his 
pate, which would have baffled a one-horse harrow. 
Bert was proud and desired to look well, but no mat- 
ter how fine his clothes, neatness was not his strong 
point. Kind and gentle to a fault, his natural awk- 
wardness and wit gave him a clear passport to all 
with whom he came in contact. He never suspected 
that he himself was barely tolerated by the ladies ; his 
dry witticisms and jokes from anyone else would 
seem extremely rude. 

We walked back to the waiting-room. Mr. and 
Mrs. Dearing bowed and smiled approvingly, but the 
girls arose, laughing and clapping their hands glee- 
fully at the transformation as they offered us seats. 
All expressed delight at the fit and neatness of our 
suits ; we were invited in to supper. With the natural 
politeness characteristic of his race, Joe attended as 
waiter. It was a beautiful spread, of the daintiest 
viands and substantiate combined — roast pig, beef and 
mutton, baked grouse, chicken fricassee, minced 
woodchuck, pies, potatoes and pumpkin, apple but- 
ter, milk, hot rolls, biscuit, light bread, fresh and 
stale; a variety of cakes, and apples galore. Think 
of two rebel soldiers sitting down before such a con- 


30 


THE ROCK 


fusion of good things, in the presence of two of the 
most lovely daughters of Virginia — a pleasure we had 
been denied for nearly four years. Notwithstanding, 
we did ample justice to the occasion. Returning to 
the waiting-room, Thelma played and sang some popu- 
lar war songs, in which we joined. Bert seeing a vio- 
lin on the piano, and being a superb performer, took 
it, and accompanied the piano with fine effect. 

Gladys, blushing, asked if I could dance. My re- 
ply was: "You asked me the question I desired of 
all others/’ Bert said: "Brady is one of the best all- 
round dancers I ever saw; it is perfectly natural 
with him, and, furthermore, he has been trained un- 
der the very best masters known. Miss Gladys, if 
you will join him in a round dance, you will be de- 
lighted. We will make the music for you.” 

After much teasing and coaxing, by permission of 
father and mother she joined me in a waltz, to the 
pleasure of all. Then Thelma and Bert took the floor, 
and Gladys and the writer furnished the music. We 
retired for the night, after the congratulations of Mr. 
and Mrs. Dearing at the transformation of two rag- 
ged rebel soldiers into professionals in the art of mu- 
sic and terpsichore. 

"Now, children,” said Mrs. Dearing, "it is time to go 
to rest. We have all enjoyed the music and dancing, 
and the performance of the soldier on the violin is 
both smooth and easy, while the dancing of the other 
5s natural, graceful and dignified. It reminds me of 
John so much ! I hope that you, Gladys, will improve 
in waltzing under so proficient an instructor.” 

"I certainly will try, mother,” said Gladys, "to make 
tnyself more proficient under his tutelage. It is a 


THE ROCK 31 

great pleasure to dance with one so well up in the art. 
Mr. Brady, will you give me instructions ?” 

“With all pleasure, Miss Gladys, I will essay to 
make you a graceful dancer, and we will begin at 
once. Each night you can have lessons, and we will 
continue until interrupted by raiders. In which event 
I would be pleased to give you lessons in marksman- 
ship also.” 

“I am a fine shot already,” said she, “but I wish to 
improve in that line also.” 

“You shall have a carbine and all the ammunition 
you may need, as we are well supplied with the 
sinews of war.” 

Bert and Thelma were standing where the dance 
left them, in close converse, when Mrs. Dearing re- 
minded us once more that we must retire for the 
night. Mr. Dearing showed us to our room, and, 
wishing us refreshing sleep, bade us “good-night.” 


CHAPTER V. 

A THRILLING ADVENTURE. 

On a large, soft bed as if made of cygnets’ down, 
we pillowed our heads for the first time in nearly 
four years, and we slept, oblivious of war and all dis- 
turbing causes. The sun was well up and peering in 
through the windows when we were aroused by a 
gentle rap on the door. It was Mrs. Dearing sum- 
moning us to breakfast. Seated at the table, she told 
us that Mr. Dearing and Joe had risen early and 
gone to the ranch, but would return before noon. 

Mrs. Dearing asked us many questions concerning 
our families in Georgia, all of which we gladly an- 
swered. Thereupon we produced photos of our sis- 
ters and letters lately received ; these were closely ex- 
amined and read with many flattering comments. 
“Oh, what a lovely hand your sisters write, Brady, 
and what a beautiful face !” said Gladys. “How badly 
you must want to see them.” 

“Indeed I do, for not since June, *6i, have I seen 
the faces of any of my family. I have four sisters, 
and Bert has three, and all are younger than we are 
except one sister. Our fathers and mothers are both 
living, and are well circumstanced in life. They own 
several plantations and many slaves.” 

“From these comforts you have been torn by this 
unholy war,” said Mrs. Dearing. “The fearful re- 
sponsibility for all the tears, suffering and death, 
and anguish of soul, rests on a few misguided fanatics 

3 2 


THE ROCK 


33 


of the North! My dear children, this is not a political 
war, but a religious war, when reduced to its last 
analysis. As long as the questions which distracted 
the country remained in the realm of politics, no war 
spirit could be aroused in the North. Only a few 
years had passed since an abolitionist paper was sup- 
pressed in Boston ; the editor fled the country for per- 
sonal safety ; his press was broken and the type was 
scattered in the streets. Not until that old, misguided 
hag, Harriet Beecher Stowe, a religious fanatic and 
vicious crank, wrote and published ‘Uncle Tom’s 
Cabin’ did the spirit of war awaken. It was a book 
full of lies and wanton slander of the South and her 
people, but it was read with hysterical glee as a new 
revelation, and was fulminated from the Northern 
pulpits by hypocritical preachers wearing the livery 
of Heaven, and was sung in the churches as a new 
inspiration and with a holy unction, accompanied by 
‘John Brown’s Body Lies Mouldering in the Ground.’ ” 
This could not have been accomplished without the 
aid and influence of the women of the North, who 
prostituted their high and holy mission, set at naught 
the divine purpose in the economy of their creation ; 
intended as a helpmate to man to soften and curb his 
wild and ambitious nature, his beastly and cruel heart ; 
be it said to her very shame, she lent the influence 
and subtle power she exerts over man to incite him 
to deeds of violence and bloodshed. I am sorry to 
say that from a close study of the human family and 
its history, wicked women have been the primary 
cause, instruments and agencies in inflicting the world 
with more bloody wars and reigns of terror than all 
other causes combined, though led under a misguided 
idea of advancing the cause of Heaven, a ‘more-holy- 


34 


THE ROCK 


than-thou’ idea. This is a sad commentary on her 
sex, but it is true! Good and wise women make 
earth a paradise ; they save men or send them to hell. 
By these women the firebrands of hate and envy were 
lighted throughout the North, gradually consuming 
every good instinct, inflaming a hellish appetite for 
Southern blood. As fire in the stubble, it raged ; the 
Constitution of the land, which the South reverenced, 
was openly and publicly denounced ‘a covenant with 
hell and a league with the devil/ The solemn acts 
of the Congress were openly disregarded and wilfully 
violated, the decisions of the Supreme Court set at 
naught and of none effect ; every right of the South 
was ignored and every appeal to conscience, justice 
and honorable treatment was jeered with reckless 
abandon, all of which contributed and inspired old 
John Brown to insurrection and murder at Harper’s 
Ferry, Virginia.” 

Breakfast being over, we informed the family that 
we would spend the day at “The Rock” and return 
about twilight; if we remained at the house it might 
result in bringing trouble on the family, and this 
would not do; if any vandals entered while we were 
here, a scrap would occur and subject the house and 
its occupants to harm and possibly atrocious treat- 
ment; that fight was our desire whenever oppor- 
tunity offered and not to place ourselves in a posi- 
tion where we would not feel free to take such ac- 
tion as we thought proper. In “The Rock” we would 
be free as the mountain air; no suspicion would be 
aroused for what might happen on the highway. To 
all of this the family assented with this proviso, that 
we should return at twilight for supper, and, after that, 
music and dancing again. 


THE ROCK 


35 


Taking our guns and thanking Mrs. Dearing and 
the young ladies for their kindness and the unstinted 
welcome accorded us, we strolled leisurely down the 
main public road leading toward Strasburg. Near 
“The Rock,” about a mile from the Dearing mansion. 
Bert stopped and, pointing down the road in front 
of us, said: “There come two cavalrymen toward us, 
and I believe they are Yankees/’ We halted in the 
road to observe their movements and await develop- 
ments. There was no alternative but to meet them if 
they came on, as on each side of the road were open 
fields. It seemed that a scrap was unavoidable, for 
presently we saw plainly their blue uniforms. It was 
up to us ! On and on they came, eyeing us scrutinize 
ingly while they unslung their carbines and unbuckled 
the straps of their holsters. We saw that they had 
recognized us and were watching us intently as they 
continued to advance. Bert remarked that we were 
even in numbers, but that they were both armed with 
carbines, and could shoot sixteen times to our one. 
Also that they were mounted, and, with their horses 
running, their aim would be wild, while we could wait 
for nearer quarters before we answered their fire. 
“You have a carbine, and can begin firing at one hun- 
dred yards,” he said. “I will hold my one shot for 
an emergency.” 

They came within two hundred and fifty yards of 
us first in a trot, then in full run they urged their 
horses forward and opened fire on us. The shots 
went wide of the mark, as we had expected. With 
my carbine at a distance of two hundred yards, I re- 
turned the fire. One rider was unhorsed ; the other, 
seeing the fate of his comrade, attempted to rein in 
his horse, but, failing in that, he attempted to rush 


36 


THE ROCK 


past and escape. He went by us at a fearful speed! 
He had ceased firing at us upon the fall of his com- 
rade. Bert whirled and sent a bullet at him, break- 
ing his neck. His horse was captured by the young 
ladies, who, hearing the firing, had run out into the 
' road in front of their home. When we came up they 

were both claiming the honor and the property. We 
had the other horse, together with the trappings ; the 
gun of the last man was beside his body. Our spoils 
on this occasion consisted of two carbines with two 
hundred cartridges each, two fine cavalry horses, sad- 
dles and blankets. 

We met the girls coming toward us leading their 
horse with the proud step of victors. Thelma asked: 
“Are either of you hurt?” Gladys said: “What have 
you done now?” 

“No, they did not touch us,” said Bert carelessly, 
“but we have killed them both. How proud we are 
of our boys, our little army of invincibles ! But pray 
tell us what you are going to do with the dead bodies, 
those two fine horses and their equipage,” said both 
the young ladies, distraught with fear and excitement. 
Bert answered that Joe would take charge of the 
horses and equipage, the guns, pistols and ammuni- 
tion — we would need them in our business ; and as to 
the bodies of the two men, we would give them a sol- 
dier’s sepulchre where they lay. 

It was an ideal day, bright and sunny, though not 
a living soul was to' be seen ; all was still and serene ; 
the golden splendor of a typical Indian summer, re^ 
fleeted by the mountains, lent its charm, beautifying 
the scenery. But a sad duty lay before us: that oi 
burying the evidence of our fatal work. Securing a 
pick and spade, we repaired to the first one that fell, 


THE ROCK 


37 


and soon had a grave deep enough to conceal the body. 
We laid him in his soldier’s grave and filled in with 
earth and covered it with oak leaves, thus obliterating 
all traces of our bloody deed. As we proceeded to 
the other body, we met two venerated citizens of the 
neighborhood standing near the body. We made 
known the circumstances of their undoing and the 
necessity of burying them as soon as possible. They 
volunteered assistance, loyal and true to the cause of 
the South. Said rite being over, with the same pre- 
cautions as to secrecy, we thanked our friends for 
their aid in so arduous a duty. We bade them adieu, 
and retraced our steps to the Dearing mansion. 


CHAPTER VI 


THE RANCH. 

It was an ideal Indian summer day, with gentle 
breezes sweeping the mountain sides from the south- 
east, warm and balmy, the few leaves that remained on 
the parent branches rejoining their fellows which lay 
in great drifts on the ground, leaving the boughs and 
branches bare of their summer vestments. But time 
would come when the buds would put forth again in a 
newness of life ; so with the bodies we had buried ; 
endowed with spirit, though fallen, they would live 
again, decreed to perpetual life, in a new sphere of ex- 
istence, in a new entity, through innumerable eons of 
eternity. 

The young ladies told us that their father and Joe 
would soon return and take charge of the horses. 
“However,” said Thelma, “we will take the horses 
and ride up the mountain trail and meet them and 
turn the horses over to them and get back quickly.” 

“Brady,” said Gladys, “assist me to mount.” Plac- 
ing her foot in my hand, I raised her to the saddle. 
Bert assisted Thelma to mount the other horse, and 
they cantered up the mountain, and were lost to 
view. Mrs. Dearing assured us that they were expert 
horsewomen, accustomed to the management and con- 
trol of horses. It was now four o’clock in the after- 
noon, and the fates seemed to favor us ; not a soul 
had passed the highway except our two good friends, 
5vhose arrival seemed providential. 

38 


THE ROCK 


m 

Seated in a wide verandah with Mrs. Dearing, we 
quietly discussed the events of the day. Her soul re- 
volted at the butchery that was transpiring all over 
the South. Said she : “My young friends, those men 
you have killed and buried by the roadside yonder 
were dear to hearts somewhere ! They had loved ones 
who will look for their return and grieve for their 
fate. War is unjustified and indefensible, in the light 
of present civilization. It is cruel and barbarous ! A 
fearful retribution awaits those who are responsible 
for bringing it about. I believe the eternal justice of 
the Infinite will hold nations, as well as individuals, 
responsible for their acts.” 

Twilight in a mountainous country is of short dura- 
tion ; the heavy shadows behind which the sun has hid 
himself reach out toward the east, dissipating the 
lingering rays of light, and Erebus reigns supreme. 

A sudden tempest arose, as if Pluto had opened the 
door of the mountain caverns and let loose the pent-up 
winds. They came forth shrieking through the leaf- 
less trees in mournful notes, as if singing a requiem 
to the dead. But after the tempest there was a calm, 
serene and delightful, when far up the mountain 
heights came the sound of the voices of the young 
ladies in accents soft, round, sweet and tender on the 
ambient air ; the melody rose and swelled, filling 
all space — the soul-stirring sentiment of the “Bonnie 
Blue Flag” and “When this cruel war is over, praying 
then to meet again.” To which sentiment the writer 
of this said : “So mote it be.” Bert laughed outright, 
reading my thoughts. Mrs. Dearing feigned not to 
see the point of Bert’s explosive laughter, but her ex- 
quisite good sense told her that Cupid’s bow had al- 


40 


THE ROCK 


ready done some fatal work and that two hearts had 
been pierced by his unerring aim. 

We arose and went to meet the young ladies. When 
they saw us coming, they came running down the 
mountain with the agility of fawns, leaving Mr. Dear- 
ing well in the distance. So anxious were they to 
know the sequel of the day’s tragedy, their momentum 
threw them against us with such force that we could 
scarcely withstand the impact. “Oh, Brady,” cried 
Gladys, “do excuse me for my rudeness, but I just 
could not stop.” “And neither could I,” said Thelma. 

“But what of the dead soldiers?” asked Thelma. 
“Buried with military honors,” feelingly replied Bert. 
Mr. Dearing, joining us, said: “You are two jolly 
good boys, and I do wish General Lee had one hun- 
dred thousand just such; then I know not one of the 
enemy could stay on Virginia soil long.” 

He now proposed that we go home, that Joe would 
stay at the ranch. As we went he gave us a descrip- 
tion of the ranch, situated on a plateau high up on 
top of the mountain, consisting of one hundred and 
sixty acres of rich and very fertile soil, almost in- 
accessible, and very difficult to approach by one not 
having been there. The tract had descended to him 
through a long line of ancestors, the original survey 
having been made by George Washington when he 
was a young man and Virginia was a dependency of 
the British crown. It was cut up into small tracts for 
the convenience of pasturage and fenced in the most 
substantial manner for a stock farm. He had horses, 
cows, sheep and hogs in large numbers. Joe was his 
faithful ranchero, and they were well cared for, and 
never was molested during the war. After arriving 



A Tragical Event. 


( Page 41) 








































































































THE ROCK 


4i 


home we had a bountiful supper and discussed the 
leading incidents of the day ; then we sang some patri- 
otic songs, and, after an hour or so devoted to the 
dance, sought slumber and dreamland. 


CHAPTER VII. 

A SEASON OF REST. 

The dawn brought forth a dismal aspect. Heavy 
clouds scudding athwart the skies from the north- 
west threatened snow and sleet. The army of the 
enemy had gone into winter quarters in the upper val- 
ley, and all activity had ceased. The country’s panic, 
occasioned by the battle of the 19th of October and 
being left in the rear of the enemy, had subsided, and 
the few old men, women and children left behind were 
emboldened to renew social visits and learn the latest 
news concerning the movements of the enemy. Occa- 
sionally one or the other sons would run the gauntlet 
pf the vigilant videttes of the enemy and bring us the 
latest Richmond papers, which were perused with 
avidity. 

Mr. Dearing related our latest encounter with the 
two cavalrymen. 

“I wish,” remarked Edgar, “that it were possible to 
have you in my company, but it takes so long to trans- 
fer from one branch of the service to another ; then I 
don’t know what would become of the family, situ- 
ated as we are at present ; and, as the war on the part 
of our enemy has assumed a most horrible aspect, we 
would prefer that you stay within reach of our loved 
ones, and if the circumstances warrant it (and you 
alone are to be the judges) we desire you to make 
safe convoy of them to the nearest point within our 
42 


THE ROCK 


43 

lines. We will in person let your commanders know 
where you are, and the great service you have been to 
the family, and the deeds of your heroic daring, and 
the danger of any attempt now to rejoin your com- 
rades; and with this promise on your part we can 
most cheerfully take our places in the ranks to fight 
the battles of our dear Southland, as we have in the 
past, knowing that our loved ones are in the care and 
protection of two as brave and discreet boys as ever 
donned the grey.” 

Then said Bert : “If occasion should require it, we 
solemnly promise to that end our lives and sacred 
honor as soldiers of the suffering South, and, as gen- 
tlemen, we are from this moment on sacredly pledged 
in defense of this house and its occupants.” 

“Then,” said Mr. Dearing, “these two young sol- 
diers of the Confederacy are the finest shots in the 
army — cool, courageous and determined, and we 
would feel very insecure were they to leave us at pres- 
ent.” 

Gladys spoke, and said : “No, no ; it will not do to 
be left alone with no one to aid and comfort us. They 
have both endeared themselves to all of us, and have 
proven to be brave soldiers and upright gentlemen.” 
The mother and Thelma heartily assented to all that 
was said, and entreated us to feel that it was our home 
also. 

Thelma said: “Though under all adverse circum- 
stances, we are having a delightful time. Only our 
troubled country mars our happiness ! I beg you, dear 
brother, to remain all night with us, just to see Brady 
dance and hear Bert play on the violin.” 

“My dear sister,” said John, “nothing would afford 
us more pleasure than to occupy our boyhood room 


44 


THE ROCK 


once more and to hear our young friends sing, play 
and dance, but we are engaged in a great and des- 
perate struggle for everything that a freeman holds 
dear. We must join our comrades on the field of 
battle, and do our part as soldiers in a common cause, 
and leave the result to the great arbiter of the des- 
tinies of nations. Hords of hirelings from all na- 
tions of earth are fighting us, with Grant and Sher- 
man commanding. Octopus-like, they are throwing 
their tentacles round about the devoted bands of the 
South’s illustrious heroes, may possibly crush us be- 
fore spring opens. Somewhere there will be fought 
a deadly and decisive battle, and we intend to be in 
the forefront! Our friends, Brady and Bert, have 
promised that no harm shall befall any of you, and 
if necessary to conduct you all to some safe place in 
our lines. Confidently relying on their protecting care 
and guidance, we do here and now commend you, in 
God’s name.” 

Embracing each member of the family in the most' 
tender and affectionate manner, and mounting their 
war horses, they were soon lost in the fast-thickening 
night. It was pathetic indeed to see these parents 
straining their eyes, dimmed with burning tears, to 
catch the last glimpse of the receding forms of their 
noble boys; the lovely sisters with bleeding hearts 
following them out to the road, watching them mount 
and ride away to scenes of carnage and blood, while 
they stood trembling with deepest emotion, listening 
to the iron ring of their horses’ feet, SO' soon to be 
lost in the distance of the gloomy darkness. 

Poor, sweet sisters, how well do we remember the 
bright morn in May when we took a last look at our 
loved parents and sisters and marched away to be sol- 


THE ROCK 


45 


diers in the dearest cause that moved the hearts and 
arms of a chivalrous and proud people. A shriek of 
wild agony broke the awful stillness of night, and Bert 
and the writer ran out to the road, to find the pros- 
trate forms of the young ladies with their arms en- 
twined around each other. They had fainted, their 
breathing was labored and fitful, scarcely audible to 
us. Taking them up into our arms, we bore them to 
the house. By the application of energetic restora- 
tives, they soon returned to semi-consciousness, whis- 
pering : “Gone, gone, gone.” Their mother lying on 
a settee moaned : “I shall see them more.” 

The writer attempted to comfort her by telling of 
the many battles in which they had been engaged, and 
/ neither had received the slightest wound ; that, as con- 
ditions were at present, the heavy fighting would be 
between the infantry and artillery forces of the two 
armies, and that the cavalry arms would be to guard 
the flanks and keep vigil watch of the movements of 
each army, and not necessarily dangerous to life, 
though it was arduous service. Mr. Dearing agreed 
with me in my reasonings, and said: “It is true. 
There will be some smart brushes between the re- 
spective cavalry forces, but the final and decisive strug- 
gle will be between the infantrty and artillery. It will 
be much more deadly.” The young ladies were much 
saddened by the statement of their mother, and, par- 
taking of her painful grief, became very melancholy. 
The death of loved ones was intuitively seen and felt 
all over our stricken land. 

Joe, the faithful slave, who did all the chores of the 
house and shared in the family’s sorrows and griefs, 
now reconsecrated himself to his duties with increased 
interest and renewed devotion to “her soldier boys,” 


THE ROCK 


46 

as Mrs. Dearing now called us. He was always ready 
to respond to our every wish. We instructed him in 
the practice of shooting with the carbine, going with 
him to the mountains to shoot squirrels, which were 
plentiful at this season of the year. He soon became 
an expert in marksmanship, and, should an emergency 
arise, we expected to use him. He kept the family in 
game of different kinds all through the winter : ducks, 
squirrels, grouse and groundhog, the last two a very 
dainty and exquisite dish. Proud of his skill in the 
use of the carbine, he intimated that he would enjoy 
an exchange of shots with the game that we sought. 
We told him, if he could keep his nerve, we might 
some day be able to gratify his ambition and to hold 
himself in readiness at any moment. He rolled up his 
ponderous lips as a soldier does his blanket, indicative 
of the pleasure the opportunity would afford. 

He kept diligent watch for marauding parties, and 
in fact we got information through him that it would 
have been impossible to obtain otherwise. Thus 
passed days, weeks and months, with nothing to break 
the monotony, though pleasing to us, in the compan- 
ionship of two of the most lovely and beautiful girls. 
They rendered our stay delightfully pleasant beyond 
expression. Until now I never could determine the 
proper exegesis of a certain passage of ancient history, 
to wit: “That when Jacob first kissed Rachel, his 
soon-to-be bride, he lifted up his voice and wept.” 
Now it was revealed! I could fully appreciate the 
gush of his lachrymal fount — not surely that he was 
disappointed, but that Rachel limited his labial exer- 
cises. 

Daily we strolled about the premises, through the 
orchard where we first met, under the tree where we 


THE R'OCR 


had sat eating apples, when we, guilty culprits, were 
captured by our fair friends and led dumb captives, 
prisoners to sweet voices, soft black eyes, waving 
tresses, heavenly faces and hearts overflowing with 
purest sympathy and boundless love. Then to the 
green house and the flower garden, learning the names 
of this and that flower, which to us were interesting 
only for the sake of the florist, and now to a grassy 
plot, where we engaged in that most exciting of 
games, mumble-peg. 

Under the auspices of our adorable hosts we had 
made most remarkable improvement in our appear- 
ance; by daily use of comb and brush we had suc- 
ceeded in removing the tangles and stirrups in our 
tresses. They now fell in luxuriant mass over our 
shoulders, rivaling that of our fair companions in 
length and color, giving us quite a feminine appear- 
ance. There was not a trace or germ of facial hirsute 
to indicate our sex; our faces were round and our 
skins fair, showing no traces of exposure to the sun. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

THE YOUNG LADIES VISIT “THE ROCK.” 

On a pleasant afternoon we took our carbines, and 
with our daily companions strolled down the road in 
the direction of Strasburg, ostensibly to show the 
young ladies the place where we had buried the two 
Yankee cavalrymen ; in passing we pointed out their 
resting places. Our main object, however, was to 
show them “The Rock.” The evening was delightful — 
just cool enough to make exercise desirable, giving a 
ruddy glow to the cheeks of the girls. When we ar- 
rived at the foot of the mountain, Bert said: “Let 
us go up on the mountain, and we will show you our 
refuge.” The girls assented, for they had long ex- 
pressed a desire to see the place about which so much 
had been told them. At this point the mountain was 
precipitous and in places difficult of ascent, but taking 
hold of the small bushes rooted in the fissures of the 
rocks rendered our otherwise impossible task com- 
paratively easy. Nearing the top, Gladys and the 
writer were in advance of Bert and Thelma. Gladys 
thoughtlessly tipped a small boulder which had lain for 
ages on a pivotal balance. Down the sides of the 
mountain it plunged, starting others in its descent, 
and came near colliding with Bert and Thelma below. 
I told her she must be careful and not to displace a 
stone, as it was very dangerous to those below us. 
Thelma cried out : “Let us go back ! Are you trying 
48 


THE ROCK 


m 


to kill us by rolling stones down on us? That rock 
bounded right over us, and did not miss our heads one 
foot.” It took a great deal of coaxing to induce her 
to continue the journey. We were now nearing the 
summit of the highest point, and there was only one 
more difficulty to overcome — an incline of about twenty 
feet in height — before we would be on the flat surface 
leading to the cleft. Taking the girls by the hand, 
and carefully selecting each foot rest step by step, was 
made the dangerous ascent. “Thank the Lord,” said 
Thelma, and Bert sang: “How firm a foundation of 
the Lord.” 

The violent exercises had brought a flow of per- 
spiration and glowing touch of red to all our cheeks ; 
we sat down on a mossy rock to rest before explor- 
ing the cleft. We had a fine view of the valleys be- 
low and Strasburg, seven miles in the distance. We 
saw small troops of the enemy’s cavalry going to and 
fro along the pike roads, a few straggling off to a 
neighboring farmhouse for the purpose of plundering 
the few remaining residents of whatever tempted their 
cupidity. 

At length Gladys arose and went to “The Rock,” 
and entered at once into its dark chambers. Follow- 
ing, we lit a candle, hastened to her side and told her 
she might tumble into some pit unseen. “How dark 
and gloomy this all seems, and how can you stay here 
nights?” 

Thelma discovered a faint ray of light peering 
through the walls, and Bert thrust his carbine into the 
aperture. The shell-like rock yielded easily to pres- 
sure, letting into the room a flood of light. We con- 
tinued to extend the opening for about eight feet on 
a parallel with our shoulders, making ideal port holes 


5o 


i THE ROCK 


from which to shoot. It was in easy range of the 
public highway, and afforded complete protection. 
We resolved then and there to utilize this fortress 
should opportunity occasion it. We showed the girls 
our bed and furniture, consisting of one Yankee 
blanket, a gum cloth, a tent fly and a sperm candle, 
which Bert had picked up on the morning we routed 
the enemy from his camps as we passed their deserted 
quarters. 

In silence and awe they looked around at the won- 
derful and strange phenomena before them, and, 
scarcely able to suppress their tears, asked us to take 
them away from such a dreary place. We began the 
trip, passing along the mountain top for about a mile ; 
the young ladies each killed a squirrel, which they 
bore home in triumph, proud of their skill in the use 
of the carbine. The descent was easily made, and the 
approach was through the apple orchard, in which 
there still lay in great profusion the red apples. This 
tempting spread of beauties gave zest to our appe- 
tites, stimulated by the trip up and down the moun- 
tain. Passing on to the crushing mill, we found Mr. 
Dearing and Joe making cider. We all drank thirstily, 
and then went home, tired and fatigued for needed 
rest. 

It was a long custom with the apple growers in the 
valley to convert their product of apples into brandy, 
but since the war began Mr. Dearing had stored his 
annual crop at the ranch for fear of confiscation, there 
being no market for his product. In his cellar he kept 
three or four barrels for winter use and the delecta- 
tion of his friends, but the great bulk was carried to 
the ranch. At the present time he had one hundred 
barrels of different ages mellowing under the beneficent 


\ 


THE ROCK 


5i 


influence of time. They worked continuously until all 
the crop had been transformed into the liquid bever- 
age, and at night the day’s product was stored in the 
warehouse at the ranch up among the vapory clouds. 


CHAPTER IX. 

bert’s thrilling experience. 

One cold, bitter night in December the hoarse 
moanings of the winds seemed to grow louder and 
louder as the night advanced. Secure from their icy 
touch, we sat in a large room; the fireplace glowed 
with warmth from the blue blaze of oak coals ; we re- 
lated to eager listeners incidents of our soldier lives, 
thinking and musing of the many nights (fierce as the 
present) spent around camp fires, which would cause 
an involuntary shudder to shake our whole frames. 

Thelma asked us to tell of the most exciting inci- 
dent in our experience as soldiers. “Well,” replied the 
writer, “Bert will lead with one of his best, for I 
know of several close calls he had.” 

He reluctantly assented. This is one of the most 
miraculous escapes the writer ever knew, the truthful- 
ness of which, being an eye-witness, he will vouch for 
in each detail. 

Bert began as follows: “In the summer of 1863 
Longstreet’s corps, to whch we belonged, was or- 
dered from before Richmond. We were to hurry to 
the relief of Stonewall Jackson at Manassas Gap 
Railroad, full in the rear of General Pope, the great 
braggart of the West, who had been brought to 
Virginia to capture Richmond, the capital of the 
Confederacy, set up so menacingly near to Wash- 
ington. 


52 


THE ROCK 


S3 

“General Pope, assuming command of the Army 
of the Potomac, published a general order which 
was read to the army at dress parade, proclaiming 
‘that he had seen nothing but the backs of the 
enemy in the West/ thinking to inspire his new 
command with hope of easy victory. This com- 
mand had been defeated time after time by this 
braggadocio and attempt to bluff his enemy. It 
was bad diplomacy on the part of this windy gen- 
eral ; his proclamation was published in all the 
Richmond papers and read by our men, who de- 
nounced the braggart in language inelegant, and in- 
deed was more effective in the Southern army than 
any order General Lee could have written. 

“Suddenly Stonewall Jackson had turned up di- 
rectly in General Pope’s rear, and cut off his com- 
munication with Washington. The doughty com- 
mander now faced about, and hurled his whole army 
on Jackson, with a view of crushing him before help 
could arrive. This was at Bristow Station on the 
Manassas Gap Railroad. Jackson met him at every 
point, however, and repulsed his attacks with great 
slaughter. 

“On or about the nth day of August, 1863, Long- 
street’s corps struck tents before Richmond to rein- 
force Jackson, and by forced marches reached a 
point near Stevensburg in County, Vir- 

ginia, where, as we thought, to rest from our long 
and tiresome march in the heat of summer. The 
stop was for only a few moments, but the men 
were exhausted and fell out of the road, and were 
soon stretched on the ground in the shade of the 
trees. Men in the ranks seem to know as by intui- 
tion when things are going right or wrong, and on 


54 


i T.HE ROCK 


this occasion it was demonstrated to the writer be- 
yond peradventure. I heard them say: 'Something 
is wrong; everything is not as it should be/ The 
faces of the officers looked perturbed and troubled 
and soon the entire command were discussing the 
situation with great earnestness. General Long- 
street and his staff came riding back from the head 
of the column. In the midst of the cavalcade we 
saw a man in blue uniform with his hands tied, sit- 
ting on a horse led by one of the orderlies. ‘A spy! 
a spy !’ was whispered from one to another all 
down the line. General Longstreet betrayed per- 
plexity if not anger in his looks. In a few mo- 
ments we were called to attention, and began to 
retrace our steps, and near the village of Stevens- 
burg we found the body of the Yankee spy swing- 
ing to and fro, suspended from the limb of a large 
oak tree. This was summary punishment for crime. 
The rope was tied around his neck and then to the 
limb, and his horse whipped from under him. It 
was reported that the spy had misled Longstreet 
many miles out of his way, which had now to be 
made up by forced marches. Some of the living 
may recall this incident should they read these lines 
and took part in this, one of the most exciting cam- 
paigns in which the writer was ever engaged. I 
have never seen any allusion to this incident except 
my own notice given The Confederate Veteran some 
years since. 

“Jackson was hard pressed by Pope with over- 
whelming numbers, but stubbornly held his posi- 
tion, inflicting heavy loss on his adversary. Pope, 
knowing that Longstreet was on his way to relieve 


THE ROCK 


55 

Jackson, sent a strong force to delay him until he 
could crush and capture Jackson. 

“In our endeavor to reach Jackson at about 12, 
we came to a halt. After desultory firing of small 
arms and an occasional shot of shrapnel from the 
enemy’s artillery, General Longstreet threw for- 
ward a heavy line of skirmishers. In a skirt of 
woods near a large field of rank Indian corn, with 
my comrade and first sergeant in command of the 
line, we were ordered forward. At this juncture 
General Longstreet passed along our line, and said : 
'Keep cool, boys ; we will wax them presently.’ 
We knew the enemy was lying in wait for us in the 
dense rank corn, but at the command ‘forward,’ the 
men sprang into the thicket of growing corn, and as 
we were crossing the rows we knew we could not 
see them until we had run right on them. But they 
were apprised of our coming, for we made noise 
enough to awaken them if they had been asleep 
and a mile away. Brady and I had not crossed 
more than twenty rows of the thick corn when I 
stood face to face in the same row with a large, 
fine-looking cavalryman. We were in two gun 
lengths of each other. He threw his gun to his 
shoulder and ordered me to surrender. I knew he 
had the drop on me and would shoot me if I at- 
tempted to raise my gun. So I hurled my gun with 
bayonet fixed at my antagonist, and, with all my 
strength, at the same time, shied my body, and his 
bullet passed through my jacket’s breast. My bay- 
onet had pierced his body, passing through, and had 
felled him to the ground. Brady and I stepped to 
where he lay. Smiling, Tie asked us to withdraw 
the bayonet. Putting my foot on his chest, with 


THE ROCK 


56 

great exertion the fatal weapon was withdrawn 
from his quivering flesh, and a stream of crimson 
showed that a vital spot had been touched. 

“Still, with a smile playing on his face, he said: 
‘Johnnie, you got me, but in a way I did not think/ 
I stooped down and gave him water from my can- 
teen, and asked him if there was anything else I 
could do for him. I unfastened his coat and exam- 
ined the wound; the crimson flow told me he had 
only a few minutes to live. He answered: ‘Take 
some letters from my coat pocket and this watch, 
and please send them to the writer. Say to her that 
my last thoughts were of her. Here is her picture ; 
I will never look on it again ; send it also, and you 
will find in my purse two hundred dollars in gold/ 
and here his mind seemed to leave him, and, a 
glamour of mist blinding his eyes, he only whis- 
pered : ‘You keep/ and he was still in death/ , 

Bert continued: “This is a true narrative of one 
of the saddest of all my experiences during my sol- 
dier life, and Brady was an eye-witness to the trag- 
edy. That night around the camp fires we read the 
letters, three in number — the last one dated only 
three days previous and postmarked ‘Camden, N. J/ 
They were evidently written by a lady of culture 
and refinement. They gave him all the home news 
in great detail, and bore the warmest sentiments of 
deepest devotion and love, and prayed for his safe 
return to her and home after this unholy war was 
over. 

“I wrote the young lady immediately, and en- 
closed all the letters and valuables — her photo, 
watch and money, and, directing as per his request. 


-I THE ROCK 


5 7 


\ 

his message to her personally. I also gave a de- 
tailed statement of his untimely death, extending 
my warmest sympathy in the loss of her lover. 
Within a week I received an answer, acknowledg- 
ing the receipt of my letter and valuables with deep 
gratitude, with her best wishes for our safety from 
all harm, and return home to loved ones.” 

“That was indeed a thrilling adventure,” said Mr. 
Dearing. “Personal incidents make up the most 
interesting phase of war history.” “Poor fellow,” 
said Thelma. “Poor fellow!” cried Gladys. “These 
murderous fanatics have no moral or legal right to 
come into our state and murder our men and steal 
our property. I would rejoice to know that every 
man on Virginia soil were as he is.” Her pretty, 
round, large, liquid eyes sparkled with feminine 
revenge. 

The fire had consumed the large pieces of oak 
wood, reducing them into a mass of coals, from 
which small, tongue-like, blue blazes leaped at ir- 
regular intervals, not unlike a deep twilight in ef- 
fect. On account of the lateness of the hour, the 
writer was excused from recital of his most exciting 
incident, promising to respond at some future time. 


CHAPTER X. 

AN OLD FRIEND. 

One evening just before the Christmas holidays 
the family sat around the fireside, discussing the 
dearth of war news. Neighbors had come in to see 
the Dearing family. A gentle rap was heard at the 
outer door, and Bert answered the door call. We 
all heard the greetings of the two and footsteps to 
the inner door, which Bert had left ajar. Looking 
around, we saw a tall and handsome man whom 
Bert held by the hand. As they approached, I rec- 
ognized at once Captain Blake, General Lee’s chief 
scout. I arose and eagerly grasped his hand, and 
introduced him to each member of the family. Cap- 
tain Blake was dressed in full Yankee uniform, and 
was just out of their camps, on his return to report 
to General Early. Upon hearing that Bert and I 
were at the Dearing mansion, he had come by to see 
us, as we were old acquaintances, and to tell us the 
situation of the two armies. The information 
gained from Captain Blake was that both armies 
had gone into winter quarters. 

All was quiet ; no further movement was ex- 
pected until opening of spring. This gave great re- 
lief to all the inhabitants of the country. After 
supper he bade us and the Dearings “good-bye,” 
promising to keep us posted in all movements of the 
enemy, and especially to give us notice if it should 
become dangerous for any of us to remain longer at 
58 


THE ROCK 


59 

the Dearing home, as he was continually within the 
enemy’s lines. He then mounted and rode away. 

Captain Blake was a native of Texas, a man of 
commanding appearance ; cool, calm and magnetic ; 
a fine conversationalist ; easy in manners ; an ac- 
complished scholar. At the first blast of the tocsin 
of war he volunteered in a company belonging to 
General Hood’s regiment, and was personally and 
intimately acquainted with Colonel Hood, who 
offered him the position of chief scout, which place 
he held until his conspicuous services were known 
to General Lee, who promoted him to the command 
of all the scouts of the Army of Northern Virginia, 
with the rank and pay of captain of cavalry, a posi- 
tion for which he was peculiarly fitted by training and 
nature. He had an admirably trained force of men 
under him, and every move or contemplated move 
of the enemy was laid before his chief with perfect 
accuracy and in detail. He spent more of his time 
in the enemy’s lines than his own, was never cap- 
tured, and in his encounters with the enemy he had 
killed more men in personal conflict than any ten 
men in the Confederate service. While in the Yankee 
lines he was a reporter for some Northern paper, 
and his reports were minutely descriptive of the' 
leading events, and always reliable. Captain Blake 
was a graduate of W est Point in the same class with 
General Hood, and hence the intimacy between 
them. Through the influence of General Hood, he 
was offered a brigadier-general’s commission. This 
he declined, believing he could be of greater service 
to his country in the place he held. 

His antecedents were of Creole origin, and hence 
his fine physique and complexion; eyes grey and 


\ 


6o 


THE ROCK 


piercing as the eagle’s. He moved with head erect 
and long and graceful strides. He wore no facial 
ornaments but a heavy mustachio, which he took 
much pride in training. Captain Blake was brave, 
but not rash ; fear did not enter his make-up ; he was 
never rattled under any circumstances ; in emergen- 
cies he acted quickly and effectively. He held him- 
self in such equipoise, so perfectly in self-control, 
so consummately balanced mentally, that under the 
most sudden and trying circumstances he always 
did the only proper thing, and gave the right an- 
swer, as if by intuition. He was the most wonder- 
fully gifted man my eyes ever beheld, both physi- 
cally and mentally ; at ease in the presence of ladies, 
who sat bewildered at his charming and captivating 
personality. To them he was at once a prince of 
men, the cynosure of all eyes. His voice, the true 
index to character, was soft, smooth and musical ; 
there was not a harsh note, but all blended in har- 
mony, flowed in one limpid, euphonious stream as 
the mountain rills. His laughter was genuine, un- 
affected and spontaneous. 

I have given the reader some of the most promi- 
nent traits of his character as a thorough gentle- 
man and a true Southern soldier. He will appear 
further on in this narrative. 


CHAPTER XI. 

An unexpected event. 

The security the few inhabitants felt at the news 
Captain Blake brought on the occasion of his visit 
to the Dearing mansion emboldened the writer and 
Bert to make a reconnaissance of the situation for 
ourselves and friends. Making the needful prepa- 
ration for the trip, we mounted two fleet horses which 
Joe had brought down from the ranch for the 
trip, and taking our arms and a goodly supply of 
cartridges in our belts, promising the family we 
would not stay out longer than two days and nights, 
we mounted the horses, and departed on the road 
toward Romney and New Market. Finding that 
there had been no traveling on the road since the 
rain, we pushed on to near the latter place. There 
we fired on the Yankee pickets, then withdrew, 
while a large force pursued us to no purpose. 

We now changed our course, and, fording the 
river, made our way toward the mountains which 
we crossed at nightfall. There we camped for the 
night, finding lodgings with a loyal mountaineer. At 
daybreak we departed in the direction of Culpepper 
Courthouse, but, learning that a large body of the 
enemy’s cavalry was in that vicinity, we turned our 
steps in the direction of Front Royal, at which place 
we arrived the next day about 10 o’clock. Finding 
the bridge there destroyed, we moved down the 
river to a crossing about two miles away, and hur- 
ried on to Loveland. 

61 


62 


THE ROCK 


Imagine our surprise on learning that the young 
ladies were missing, and no word had been received 
of their whereabouts since they had left home to 
take a horseback ride early on the day before, being 
the day after we had gone. Mr. and Mrs. Dearing 
were greatly alarmed for fear some serious accident 
had befallen them. The neighbors far and near had 
tried to get some information of them, but none 
whatever could be obtained; all that could be 
learned was the direction in which they went ; every 
effort to trace them was futile. All that we could 
learn was that they rode off in the direction of Front 
Royal, the same road we had gone two days before. 

Their parents were distraught with fear, walking 
the verandah and wringing their hands; it was in- 
deed piteous to see and hear them appealing to us to 
find their children. The whole country was in a 
frenzied state of the wildest excitement over the 
mysterious disappearance of the young ladies. Our 
hearts were nerved to the most determined effort 
to ferret out the mystery, find the lost loved ones 
and, if possible, restore them to father, mother and 
home. 

With this purpose we were hastily supplied with 
the necessary rations, and set out with the prayers 
of the father and mother for our success to trace 
them by the footprints of their horses. Never were 
two boys more anxious and determined. We were 
satisfied they had been restrained from coming 
home by some miscreants wearing the uniform of 
U. S. soliders; possibly taken prisoners and carried 
away to a distant place of detention. We could ac- 
count for their absence on no other hypothesis. I 
could hear Thelma in tears pleading to be allowed 


THE ROCK 


to return home, and the more defiant Gladys, as she 
poured out her wrath on the cowardly and pusil- 
lanimous captors. Bert was beside himself, and I 
could scarcely keep him back so as to see the tracks 
of their horses. 

We were now nearing Front Royal, and Bert 
said: “Brady, I see the enemy's pickets just this 
side of the river, and I am going to them, so they 
will think I belong to their army by my blue uni- 
form, and I want you to secrete yourself here until 
I return. I know it is a desperate act, but the emer- 
gency demands it, and I am willing to take the risk, 
in order to get some clue to the matter in hand.” 

I replied: “It is a very narrow risk you are 
taking, and you may get back all right, but it is ten 
to one that I will never see you again; not until 
the war is at an end, at best, for you are almost be- 
side yourself, and I am afraid you will not be as cau- 
tious as you usually are.” 

“Never fear,” said Bert; “I am master of the situ- 
ation, and only my Southern accent must be care- 
fully guarded. I will return to you within an hour 
and hope to get some news as to the object of our 
search.” 

With this he rode off to where the Federal pick- 
ets stood. It was about one-quarter of a mile. I 
watched with fearful forebodings for the outcome. 
To me it seemed an age. Thirty minutes passed, 
and then forty, and still nothing was to be seen of 
my comrade; only a long stretch of the vacant 
road. I then consulted my watch, and, to my utter 
chagrin, found it was only five minutes more and 
the hour had gone. Now I held my watch in my 
hand, watching the minutes as they wearily passed. 


64 


THE ROCK 


Then I saw a man ride out into the road and leis- 
urely come in my direction, and I recognized Bert. 

My heart bounded with joy, and at length he ap- 
proached with a placid smile, and said : “Great 
news, Brady! The mystery is solved. The young 
ladies were taken into custody on yesterday morn- 
ing by a troop of the enemy not far from where we 
are now, and sent under escort of a lieutenant and a 
sergeant to Warrenton, thirty-five miles from Front 
Royal.” 

“How did you ascertain that, Bert?” 

“The Yankee pickets told me they were inter- 
cepted on the highway by a body of scouts and 
brought captives to Front Royal, and from there 
taken to Warrenton yesterday.” 

“Oh, my God! Bert, we must try to save them. 
We must ride with all speed to the ford we crossed 
yesterday, and then across the mountain at Thor- 
oughfare Gap and strike the road from Warrington 
to Washington City, about the old battlefield of 
Manassas, where we may get further tidings from 
whatever source may come our way.” 

“Ah,” said Bert, “I knew you would have a plan. 
It is feasible, and we must go, at whatever cost to 
us. I am ready to follow you and recapture the 
young ladies at any hazard to our lives.” 

Immediately we set out on the long and danger- 
ous journey across the river and mountains. It was 
then three in the afternoon, and we had to go as 
far as we could before it was too dark to travel. Like 
Jehu, we rode to the river and crossed without any 
difficulty, and then towards the mountain, which 
we hoped to reach before darkness put an end to 
further progress. When night arrived we were in 


THE ROCK 65 

five miles of the mountain gap. We had not seen a 
living soul. 

Tethering and feeding our jaded horses we lay 
down and slept until daylight. Then we pushed 
on to the mountain gap, and by noon had reached 
the Warrentotn road, about two miles from the old 
Bull Run battlefield, towards which we now turned 
our course with accelerated speed. We passed the 
oak grove where in 1863 we met the enemy, August 
the 30th and 31st, and had there administered the 
second drubbing and sent them flying to their cap- 
ital. 

Recognizing the field hospital where our gallant 
wounded had been taken for temporary surgical aid, 
we halted and lingered in contemplation of our 
fallen heroes and the scenes of suffering under the 
hundreds of operations performed upon the impro- 
vised tables beneath the spreading branches of the 
large umbrageous shade of the trees. Here is 
where Virginia drank deeply of the blood of heroes 
of her own and sister states, and we recalled the 
name of two of our company, as gallant soldiers 
as ever donned the grey, Moses and Benjamin Ep- 
stein, Jews, who both fell in the charge of Hood’s 
brigade, a noble sacrifice to their adopted South- 
land. They sleep well in the bosom of that grand 
old commonwealth. No truer patriots ever gave 
services to the furled flag of the South than her 
Jewish population, and somewhere and at some 
time the Southern people should perpetuate their 
unsullied devotion and glorious services to the cause 
of constitutional government, in imperishable mar- 
ble. 

Our reverie of the sad past was interrupted by 


66 


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the thought of the still more horrible present. Pur- 
suing our journey, we met an old negro, of whom 
we enquired if he had seen any persons passing up 
the road that morning. He replied: “ I has just 
passed two soldiers and two ladies on the roadside, 
fixing to eat lunch, sur ; de soldiers were making de 
coffee, and de ladies were waiting, sitting down by 
a big oak, and seemed to be fretting and worrying; 
I asked no questions, but just passed by and tipped 
my ole hat, sur.” 

“Uncle,” said Bert, “how far away to where you 
passed those people?” 

“No piece at all — just ’round de creek in the road 
by the spring, sur. You will find dem right now, 
dis berry minute ; dey is dar.” 

The thought of seeing our sweethearts, for cer- 
tainly they were, though we had never expressed 
even to one another our consuming love for the 
objects of our perilous journey, inspired us onward. 
Soon arriving at the bend in the road, not fifty 
paces from us, we saw the cowardly miscreants 
bending over the fires, and across the road, as told 
by the old negro, the girls, with veils tightly drawn 
about their heads, sat sobbing and weeping. We 
rode slowly up to the fire, glancing at the young 
ladies. Neither looked up, having given up all hope 
of rescue. Scenes of a Northern prison were loom- 
ing up before them! 

Without uttering a word, Bert and I drew our 
guns. He slew the lieutenant, and I, the sergeant. 
We at once dismounted to meet the young ladies. 
They almost were in a state of oblivion to all that 
was transpiring around them, but now they sprang 
to their feet, overcome with joy, only to fall pros- 


THE ROCK 


trate in our arms. With their arms around our 
necks, clasped like bars of steel, their lips whis- 
pered: “Brady! Bert! Our boys!” Then they 
fainted. 

We laid their still and unconscious forms on the 
leaves that covered the ground as a carpet. From 
a small flask of apple brandy which Bert carried 
from home we forced a few drops between their 
lips, and bathed their swollen faces and eyes with 
water to try to bring them back to consciousness. We 
waited and watched with bated breath. We felt their 
pulses, but to our unskilled touch there was no re- 
sponse. We put our ears to their pale white lips 
to ascertain if they lived, and watched their bosoms 
for the slightest heavings there, but no sign of life 
remained. We looked at each other. Bert cried 
out in the greatest agony: “Brady, we have killed 
them! Oh, my God, what shall we do?” “Not so, 
Bert; I will restore them! It is only a swoon 
brought on by great joy ! It is true it looks like life 
is gone; the deadly pallor is very pronounced all 
over the faces, and neither of them has breathed 
since they fell, but in the eyes I see a ray of hope. 
The pupils seem natural, as is true in the case of 
suspended animation. They will remain in this 
state unless we can do something to arouse the 
nervous system. I know of but one other thing to 
do.” “For God’s sake, Brady, then go to work and 
do it quickly, and stop your wise surmisings until 
later.” 

“I will now arouse the solar plexus,” I replied. 
“Turn Gladys on her right side.” Kneeling beside 
her, I took her hand, and gave her several staccato 
blows with my hand between the shoulders, saying 


68 


THE ROCK 


to her in a loud and commanding tone: “Gladys, 
arise !” At this we saw a slight twitching at the cor- 
ner of the eyes, and I told Bert that she was living. 
Then I hastened to Thelma, treating her in the 
same way, and a slight groan rewarded us. We 
lifted them to a sitting posture, and told them they 
were all right, and, taking them by the hands, 
brought them to their feet and began to move them 
around. Soon they were entirely restored and be- 
gan to talk and laugh. 

Being weak, we made them drink some of the 
coffee their dead captors had made. It was still 
simmering on the coals, and it restored their 
strength and buoyancy. “How are mamma and 
papa? Are they crazy about us?” asked Thelma. 
“The wicked wretches said that they had orders for 
our arrest, because we had brothers in the rebel 
army and because we were loyal to the Confed- 
eracy.” 

Said Bert: “We must be going from this place. 
There is not a moment to be lost. Some one may 
pass at any moment. We have not been seen by 
anyone in our long ride here, but it is dangerous 
to linger. Brady, what shall we do with the dead 
bodies? Let them lie here or move them away 
from the road?” “We will move them from here 
just a short distance, and then ride in all haste 
through the woods, in order to avoid being traced.” 
This accomplished, we placed the young ladies on 
their own trusted horses, and, strapping all of the 
effects and accoutrements of the enemy on their 
animals, we mounted them and led our own, as they 
were very much jaded by the long and exhaustive 
march. Then, turning into the woods, we made 


THE ROCK 


69 

hasty flight in the direction of the mountain gap, 
arriving there about two o’clock in the afternoon, 
almost famished for water. The young ladies were 
nearly ready to drop from their horses from ex- 
haustion, and I told Bert “that they must have rest 
if only for one hour.” They were sleeping on their 
horses, holding onto the horns of the saddles and 
seeming oblivious to all that happened. 

“Let us ride away from the road, take them from 
their horses and spread our blankets for them to 
rest on, while one of us can go and get water for 
them,” said Bert. We did so, and in a quiet, se- 
cluded spot on the mountain we lifted them down 
to their feet. Neither could stand. Making a soft 
bed of leaves, and throwing our blankets over this, 
we laid them down, and told them to sleep ; and 
while Bert would find water I would guard them. 
They answered not a word, but fell into a deep 
sleep at once. One hour passed and another, still 
Bert did not return, and then another, until it was 
five o’clock, and the sun was scarcely visible over 
the western mountains. I sat by, watching the 
beautiful sleepers. They were peaceful and restful, 
with easy and measured breathings; certainly they 
had not slept since they had been captured; there 
was not the slightest movement in three hours. I 
felt the pulse, and my usual control of emotions 
gave way, and I wept for joy to find them normal. 

In a few moments I heard the crash of dry leaves 
near, and knew that it was Bert’s footsteps. I 
looked at him and waved my hand, and pointed to 
the dear, sleeping forms of the young ladies. He 
understood my signal, and approached cautiously. 
In whispers I told him of their heavy sleep in which 


70 


THE ROCK 


they had rested since he had left us, and that when 
they awakened they would need refreshments, of 
which doubtless they had not partaken a single 
morsel since their restraint, and to proceed to pro- 
vide the best he had. Bert replied : “All we have 
is a couple of cold biscuit and a few bits of fried 
chicken, the remnant of what Mrs. Dearing put in 
our provision bag. I will boil some coffee, too, 
which will invigorate them so as to resume our 
journey when they awaken.” “But, Brady, shall we 
not arouse them? Have they not slept long 
enough?” said Bert, exhibiting his alarm at the 
quietness and length of their slumbers. “No,” said 
I; “if they should sleep until night, all the better. 
They are overcome; nature must make the needed 
repairs, and it will take time, and sleep alone will 
do it. See how sweetly they rest! How perfectly 
nature has assumed her rightful prerogative ! It 
is well, Bert, and we will not interfere in her great 
work.” Bert came to me and said: “The coffee is 
ready.” 

Down in the valley the sable curtains of night 
were quietly being drawn, and the solemn still- 
ness was painful to us; there were no sounds but 
the long and labored breathing of the lovely sleep- 
ers ; yet to us it was heavenly music. Five long 
hours they had slept, with no movement whatever; 
still we watched and waited for some sign of ter- 
mination. Suddenly we saw a smile play over 
Gladys' face, and a sweet, soft whisper : “Brady !” 
Suddenly Thelma's animal, which she always rode — 
Nellie by name — being restless in waiting for her 
mistress, neighed fiercely. This awoke both sleep- 
ers. They sat upright, crying for water. Bert 


THE ROCK 


7 1 


sprang to the canteen and gave to each. They 
drank copiously, and bathed their faces and eyes 
in cold spring water. We took them by the hand and 
raised them to their feet. They walked to where Bert 
had spread our scanty repast. They partook of it 
with relish and avidity. They said : “This is the 
first thing we have eaten since we were arrested 
two days ago.” 

The coffee and biscuit being eaten, they were 
now ready to ride again. “Pray tell us how long 
have we slept?” said Thelma. “Just five hours,” 
said Bert. “Oh, how refreshed I do feel, and I 
want to go home,” said Gladys. “Yes, my dear, 
you shall go home to your dear father and mother. 
They are distraught about your absence. They had 
heard not one word of you when we left your home 
yesterday morn. We must now try to get there to- 
night if we do have the river to cross. It is not 
dangerous; we know the ford perfectly. You are 
rested good, and so are our horses. Nothing shall 
keep us out in the cold night air another night.” 

“We shall always esteem you both — our little 
army of Loveland — for our timely rescue from a situ- 
ation worse than death,” said Thelma. “And oh, 
Brady, they told us that we would be put into 
prison as rebels and kept there till the war was 
over. But we knew that you would seek us and 
save us fropi our wicked tormentors. They kept us 
in the Planters’ Hotel at Warrenton last night, and 
locked the door, and guarded the house all night, 
so the proprietor said this morning.” “My dears, 
God will rebuke the wicked and punish their sins,” 
said the writer. 

From a hazy twilight on the mountain we slowly 


72 


THE ROCK 


descended into dense blackness in the valley below, 
and made our way to the river, crossing without 
trouble. The young ladies, now in five miles of 
their home, were impatient at our slow progress, 
and wanted to increase our pace, because they knew 
their father and mother were in great distress on 
their account, and at the gait we were traveling we 
would not get home before they retired for the 
night. 

Said Bert: “You must be content, young ladies, 
to go slowly, as both of us have an extra horse to 
lead. Besides, our animals have had no nourish- 
ment of any kind since we left home, and are badly 
jaded by the long, continuous trip. The Good 
Book tells us ‘that a good man is merciful to his 
beast/ ” 

Gaining the main thoroughfare from Front Royal 
to Loveland and on to Strasburg, our horses made 
better time, seeming to know that we were nearing 
home. The young ladies became very talkative and 
as gleeful as children returning from school. “Only 
one short mile more, and we will hand you to 
father and mother,” said Bert, “and you will prom- 
ise them never to leave home again until the war is 
over, won’t you?” “Never, never,” said Gladys, 
“but to you two are we indebted for our tragic 
rescue from prison and death. It would have killed 
us both, and I would have preferred instant death 
to languishing in a loathsome dungeon in the 
North.” 

“Nay, nay, Miss Gladys; don’t let that thought 
weary you, for it has afforded us the greatest pleas- 
ure of our lives to be of service to you and your 
lovely sister, and especially to your dear parents. 


t the rock 


73 

Grief would have killed them surely,” replied the 
writer. 

At home again. “Bert, assist Miss Thelma to 
alight, and I will wait on Miss Gladys.” “Be per- 
fectly quiet now until Bert and I secure the horses, 
and then we will go in. You know this gate, don’t 
you? You must be careful now, and not make any 
demonstrations. Go in laughing and playful ; your 
mother is very nervous. There is a light in the 
drawing-room.” The distracted parents were still 
up. We opened the door, and the sisters, as I sug- 
gested, playfully embraced their father and mother 
amid the greatest exhibitions of joy. We all sat 
down, and they gave a short account of their cap- 
ture and rescue by us. Worn out by the perilous 
journey, we begged to retire to our room and to 
sleep, but not until they had both embraced us as 
affectionately as their own children, exhibiting, with 
tears streaming down their cheeks, the gratitude 
known and felt only by parents. 


i 


1 


CHAPTER XII. 

W STRANGE PHENOMENA. 

Winter in the mountains is delightful and pleas- 
ant, the inhabitants giving themselves to outdoor 
pleasures, such as visiting neighbors and hunting 
foxes, squirrels and groundhogs; gathering chest- 
nuts, climbing the mountains, which develops the 
muscles and gives a ruddy glow to the cheeks of 
lads and lassies, 

They would chase rabbits, groundhogs and 
opossums over the snow to their hiding-places, usu- 
ally under some large boulder or a hole in the 
ground, and bring them out by sprinkling hartshorn 
on a pine bough and inserting it in the den, which 
was always effectual, if they got a whiff of its 
pungent fragrance. 

The young ladies had given us a detailed account 
of their late ride and the treatment accorded 
them ; but by far the most interesting part, and on 
which they dwelt in deep gratitude, was their rescue, 
the tragedy there enacted. The sudden arrival of 
Brady and Bert, after all hope had fled, aroused 
them from the trance of despair into which they had 
fallen. There were tears of gratitude from all the 
members of the household, as their story unfolded 
mental and physical suffering which they had en- 
dured. 

One Saturday night after a very successful hunt 

74 



Bacchanalian Revelry and Slaughter. 


{Page 74) 










































































t 























J 










' 

r 









i 












75 


THE ROC m 

A & 

by the writer and Bert, sitting- around a warm fire 
in the parents' room, the young ladies demanded 
of me my promise, made some weeks previous, to 
give them the most exciting incident in my experi- 
ence as a soldier. I designated the incident as a 
“Strange phenomena,” that of all my experiences 
(and there were many) during nearly four years of 
arduous service, this one I am going to relate is as 
true as Scripture. All smiled at the seriousness I 
had assumed in my introductory. Bert roared with 
laughter, and said: “Go on, Brady; I can vouch 
for our entertainment. You are a clever talker and 
an adept in the art of telling a yarn; and I have 
repeatedly said that if ever you laid siege to a girl's 
heart with your winning ways, eloquent earnestness, 
personal magnetism and determination, uncondi- 
tional surrender of the citadel of her affections 
would be the inevitable sequence of your over- 
whelming assaults.” “Yes,” I replied, “and you 
would win in a similar contest by your daring 
strategy and intrigue.” The family laughed heartily 
at this bit of repartee between us, as we seldom 
joked or jollied each other. 

The laughter over, all eyes turned on me, and 
after a few minutes of profound silence, as I looked 
intently into Gladys’ face, I flushed to a deep crim- 
son, for her eyes revealed to me a serious thought at 
what Bert had said concerning me. Her long, black, 
wavy tresses fell in the wildest confusion and en- 
veloped her head and framed her face in a most 
attractive luxuriance ; peering intently into those 
liquid orbs, I mentally asked her the following 
question : “My own, adored Gladys, are these 
things true which Bert has said of me?” She was 


THE ROCK 


smiling and looking intently into my eyes; with 
much nervousness she began to twirl her massive 
curls, which lay in a confused heap in her lap, with 
her face illumined by a carmine blush of angelic 
sweetness; her black, jet, sparkling eyes still riv- 
eted on my own, and speaking in a language born 
only of the soul, she, without hesitation, answered 
mentally: “Yes, Brady,” as plainly to me as if in 
spoken words. 

She seemed oblivious to all things around her, 
and the study of my face was the only attraction. 
The silence grew painful. Under the mysterious 
spell she sat like a statue in her chair, though all 
eyes were now directed to her. Bert, knowing that 
I had some mysterious power, said : “What is the 
matter with Miss Gladys?” For the first time she 
spoke audibly, saying : “Oh, nothing,” and went to 
the sideboard and drank some water, and retaking 
her seat, still disconcerted and perturbed in mind, 
looked at me out of those large, liquid eyes implor- 
ingly. The family and Bert began to laugh up- 
roariously, to all of which she paid not the slightest 
attention by word or look, but, distraught with 
mental agony, said to me : “Please help me in my 
mental distress,” her eyes swollen ready to give 
vent to the lachrymal fount. To relieve her, I spoke 
kindly and sympathetically, for I was responsible 
for the painful dilemma in which she was placed, say- 
ing: “It is enough, my dear, for we have a silent 
language more impressive and eloquent than all 
spoken means of conveying thought. Though 
silent, it is more to be relied on and truer, but the 
others could not understand nor comprehend it. We 
communicate without the usual organs of speech 


THE ROCK 


77 


and inaudible to the physical senses. We see with- 
out eyes, and hear without ears ; it is soul speaking 
to soul, spirit to spirit, and as a means of com- 
munication its source is the infinite mind, but can 
only be invoked when minds are en rapport, at one- 
ment with each other ; then companionship is heav- 
enly, because it flows out from the great fount of 
divine love.” 

I said: “In your presence to-night I have made 
the test of thought transference — of a higher and 
holier method of communicating thought, and the 
response is all that could be desired. I showed the 
answer to my question asked her mentally, and you 
^aw it in her confused state of mind, in her bewilder- 
derment, in her tears, all of which you have wit- 
nessed.” Gladys hid her face in her tresses, and 
sobbed aloud. Thelma, stupefied and pale, falling 
on her knees at the side of her sister, wept bitterly. 
Bert looked at me in amazement, but said not a 
word. 

I arose and walked across the room ; standing in 
front of Mr. and Mrs. Dearing, I addressed them as 
follows: “My Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dearing, for 
months we have been the grateful beneficiaries of 
your hospital board, as simple soldiers of our com- 
mon country, with no other desire but to faithfully 
perform our duties as such, and that you have our 
unfeigned gratitude for your unsought kindness and 
generous hospitality, and this you know, and with 
hearts overflowing with true gratitude, wherever 
fate may chance to direct us, in memory’s niche 
will be a sacred corner consecrated to this family 
at Loveland, as long as life endures. 

“And now please compose yourselves for a short 


W H E ROCK 


time and listen to what I have to say. In all my 
walks with your daughter Gladys I have never 
audibly spoken to her on the subject of love; not a 
single expression of affection in audible or spoken 
words have I ever made to Miss Gladys, but our 
conversation has been commonplace, like that of 
gleeful children. We felt the charm of each other’s 
presence, that affinity which bound us together by 
ties indissoluble and lasting until death ; that high 
and holy force uniting our destinies and transform- 
ing our beings into one which we cannot resist. You 
may or may not have a proper conception of the 
mental phenomena which you have witnessed to- 
night around the family circle, as it shades off the 
physical plane of existence and touches the realm of 
the infinite. Students of psychical science are be- 
ginning in some measure to understand the law 
which underlies them, but further remarks on this 
abstruse science I will not now attempt. It has its 
corollary in the scriptural statement, ‘The wind 
bloweth where it listeth ; you hear the sound thereof, 
but you cannot tell whence it cometh or whither it 
goeth.’ Very little of the human mind is yet plain, 
and we understand but little of what we see or hear. 
Shadows of mystery veil the flowers we love, the 
grass at our feet and the plants and trees. 

“The greatest mystery is ourselves ; it is high, and 
we cannot attain unto it, for who can understand in 
all its fulness the meaning of the thought, ‘God 
in us/ or realize our true relation to the Infinite. 
Philosophers have in all ages been ba 1 ffled thereat. 
If we had any just conception of these wonderful 
truths, we would nor could not be engaged in 
spilling our brothers’ blood. But, my dear friends, 


THE ROCK 


79 

I am not before you to discuss these lofty and 
sublime truths further; but I wish to assure you 
that your lovely daughter Gladys and myself are 
affinities, although I have never audibly spoken to 
her on the subject of love ; still I am conscious of 
the fact that she loves me with all the powers of 
her being, and in this presence to-night, at this fam- 
ily fireside, I simply ask your consent to the troth 
thus plighted.” 

After a few moments of nervous silence, Mr. 
Bearing spoke with great emotion, and said : “My 
dear soldier boy, I am greatly shocked at the phe- 
nomena witnessed to-night, and I am in no state of 
mind to make answer to what it reveals. The war 
is not ended, and you are impulsive in nature and 
determined in spirit, and you may be killed in some 
future battle.” At this juncture Mrs. Dearing said: 
“Gladys has not consented, neither has she said 
anything in confirmation that what you have said 
is true.” Gladys spoke: “Yes, mother, I do con- 
sent here and now. Brady has told you the 
truth ; it is all true just as he has told it. I do love 
him, mother, for his manly worth, his brave heart, 
for his and Bert’s deeds of daring in our rescue from 
the horrible life that threatened us. I am his for- 
ever.” 

A few moments of profound silence. Mr. and 
Mrs. Dearing arose and, embracing their daughter, 
said: “Be it so, my dear, and may Heaven pro- 
tect you both and grant you a long life of happi- 
ness and connubial bliss.” Hearty congratulations 
from Bert followed, and, throwing my arms around 
Gladys, we sealed our troth with a fervent kiss. 
Bert, resourceful as ever, led Thelma to the piano, 


80 THE ROCK 

and, opening a book, said : “Let us sing with good 
old Newman.” 

“Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, 

Lead thou me on! 

The night is dark, and I am far from home, 

Lead thou me on! 

Keep thou my feet! I do not ask to see 

The distant scene; one step enough for me, 

Lead thou me on.” 

Thelma and Bert played the above, and sang with 
delightful effect, and then “Dixie,” in which all 
joined with hearty zeal and patriotic enthusiasm. 

The spell was thus broken. The elderly couple 
stood in the centre of the room with hands clasped. 
Gladys and the writer promenaded, followed by 
Bert and Thelma, laughing heartily at the strange 
denouement. Gladys whispered: “I do love you, 
my own brave soldier boy.” “And you are my in- 
spiration and hope, more to be treasured than all 
the jewels of earth,” said I. 

Thus ended the strangest courtship fancy ever 
planned or fiction ever painted, and in the end cul- 
minated in the full fruition of vows thus plighted 
and a happy realization of a long life of connubial 
bliss, of which will be told in a future chapter. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. 

For months we had enjoyed the munificent hos- 
pitality of the Dearing mansion, and now nothing 
occurred to mar the peace and quiet around Love- 
land. Mr. Dearing and Joe had completed the task 
of bringing the immense apple crop into the liquid 
beverage, and stored it at the ranch on the moun- 
tain top in deep cellars. 

At the request of our host we accompanied him 
to the ranch to see his stock and for the exercise 
it would give ; so, taking our arms, we followed him 
in a zigzag path, in distance two miles, to an ele- 
vated plateau. Nearing the gate, Mr. Dearing 
pointed out to us a large panther standing one hun- 
dred yards in front, looking squarely at us. I raised 
my carbine and fired quickly, dropping him in his 
tracks. On approaching, we found he had been hit 
between the eyes. “You are an expert shot,” said 
Mr. Dearing. “This beast has feasted on my calves 
and lambs for years, and his mate was killed by 
Joe, whom he attacked not far from this spot, and 
after a fearful fight.” He was a fine specimen, and 
Bert disjointed one of his paws, which he took 
home as a trophy. 

We entered the ranch, which was a perfect 
square, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, 
and subdivided into eight tracts of twenty acres 
81 


THE ROCK 


B2 

each, with water in each supplied by a mountain 
spring, pure and cold. In this ranch he had the 
prettiest horses, the fattest cattle and sheep and the 
largest and finest hogs we ever saw. It was an ideal 
farm in all its appointments. 

Returning home at twelve o’clock noon, Bert 
took pride in exhiibting his trophy, but had to 
acknowledge that the honor of killing him was 
mine, only boasting of his skill in surgery. We 
spent the afternoon singing and playing war songs, 
dancing and promenading the lone, vine-clad veran- 
dah, then to the green house and garden; and, sit- 
ting down on a grassy lawn, engaged in that ath- 
letic sport, "mumble-peg.” Gladys and I played as 
gleefully as children, with a satisfied air radiating 
peace and contentment of mind and happy in each 
other’s society. Not so with Bert and Thelma. 
They walked together slowly and pensively, medi- 
tation and solemnity pervading the surrounding at- 
mosphere, while Bert, in a deep, sepulchral bari- 
tone, filed his declaration of love to his silent but 
attractive and interested listener. 

Gladys said: "These are indeed perilous times. 
Every Southern girl should acquire the use of fire- 
arms.” Then she suggested target practice. I put 
up a small piece of paper two hundred yards away, 
handed her my carbine and told her to aim at the 
centre and fire. She brought the piece to her shoul- 
der, and with the nerve and steadiness of a veteran 
fired and ran to the spot to see the effect. "Oh, 
Brady; just come and see what I have done.” She 
had missed the centre only an inch. "Now,” I said, 
"if the time ever comes when you must defend 
yourself from insult by the vandals now flooding 


THE ROCK 


83 

our beloved South, I want you to be cool and send 
the bullet to the right place. I am proud of your 
skill, and to me you are the noblest girl in all our 
fair land.” “In your own esteem I believe I am, 
Brady,” said she. Then I took a shot, and she 
bounded off to the target, I following in the sprint, 
but she led me easily, and found my bullet had 
pierced the centre. In great glee she cried out: 
“You have beat me; just look.” “Yes,” said I; 
“we have been practicing longer than you, and I 
would urge you and Thelma to practice daily, for 
we have plenty of ammunition and good guns, 
and I want you to promise me that, if any indig- 
nity or insult is ever given you by these plunder- 
ers of the South, to kill him on the spot.” 

“I will do it, Brady, if God will give me the 
strength, should I be murdered the next minute. 
You have taught me how to shoot, and I know I 
have the nerve, and you have never advised me to 
do a wrong act.” We now repaired to the moun- 
tain to shoot squirrels. Seeing one up a chestnut 
tree, I told her to kill it, which she did, and the 
report of her gun aroused others, and six in suc- 
cession fell by her unerring aim. Upon examina- 
tion, each one was hit in the head. 

“This is remarkable,” said I. “Bert and I will 
have to look out for the championship.” We now 
turned our steps homeward. She moved with the 
triumphant bearing of the daugher of Nimrod — • 
the proud hauteur of a queen, her black hair in 
reckless confusion of ringlets falling below the 
waist line, eyes sparkling with limpid sweetness 
from their hiding place, a ruddy glow on the face. 
She carried her game in her hands. To me, the 


84 THE ROCK 

most fascinating being of all earth. I remarked: 
“You, Gladys, are the embodiment of all that can 
adorn and beautify a lovely girl; modest, gentle, 
tender and sympathetic, vivacious and full of fun ; 
perfect in form and figure, robust and healthy, in- 
telligent, kind and benevolent; the sum total of all 
nature's choicest gifts; and you are mine to love, 
the idol of my existence, the affinity of my soul.” 

We were now in the apple orchard, and Gladys 
stopped. “Do you remember this tree, Brady?” 
“No,” said I, “not in particular.” She then said: 
“It is the very tree under which I first saw you in 
your rags and distressed condition, and, looking 
into your face then, I loved you, and I don't know 
why it was, but it is true. This tree is the place; 
there you sat,” pointing with her boot. “There is 
something in your eyes I never saw in any being. 
I can’t describe it. I can see you now as you ap- 
peared to me ; my heart ached when you talked of 
your duties as a soldier to our bleeding country, 
when you preferred a cleft in the rock to our hos- 
pitiable home; and oh, Brady, what a treasure I 
have found in you. I will love you all the days of 
my life with my best and only love, for your good- 
ness in rescuing me from those ruthless soldiers. I 
want to live only for you, my darling.” 

We found Bert and Thelma not far from where 
we had left them two hours ago, in earnest conver- 
sation. Passing on to the house, Gladys ran into 
the kitchen, where her mamma and Joe were pre- 
paring supper. She said : “Oh, mother, do look at 
the game I have killed with Brady's carbine.” 
“Well, well,” said her mother, “you are an apt pu- 
pil under Brady's instruction ; we will have a nice 


ft HE ROCK 


*5 

fry for breakfast, and you know how fond your 
father is of them.” “Joe, take charge of the squir- 
rels and undress them for breakfast.” We then 
walked through the house, and seated ourselves on 
a settee on the verandah, admiring and talking of 
the stars as they came peeping out of their hiding 
one by one, and listening to the “who-who” of the 
harbinger of Erebus, up in his mountain perch, in 
deep monotones. Gladys nestled close to me, and 
said: “Brady, I don’t like to hear those birds. It 
makes me afraid. The sound is so like, and yet so 
unlike, the human voice.” I threw my arms around 
her, saying: “My sweet girl, fear nothing. Every- 
thing is good, and we should fear nothing but our- 
selves. I do not like his melody myself. Indeed, 
he is not a good singer, but he fills his place in the 
economy of nature.” 

The mental agony of Bert and Thelma must have 
been dissipated by his unnatural intonations. They 
now walked into the verandah. Suppressing a 
smile, I asked them how they had spent the even- 
ing. “Oh, very pleasantly indeed,” cried Bert, 
Thelma answering with a tinge of red crowning her 
cheeks. Supper being ready, we went into the din- 
ing-room, where Gladys’ marksmanship was the 
theme of all present. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

A THRILLING TRAGEDY. 

During the Christmas holidays a bountiful spread 
had been prepared in our honor. The hope was in- 
dulged that their two sons would be present on that 
occasion. The mother knew that, if it were pos- 
sible, they would get permit to visit home. Not 
so. It was an ideal Virginia Christmas dinner. 
The table bore a burden of good things for the 
inner man — all the delicacies of the season were 
present in endless quantity and variety, and were 
enjoyed to the uttermost by all present, after which 
we tendered Mr. and Mrs. Dearing our grateful 
acknowledgment for their uniform courtesy and 
kindness, and to the young ladies our undying love 
and adoration, and awarded to them connoisseurs 
in the art cuisine. 

To which Mrs. Dearing sorrowfully replied, “that 
if her sons could have been present, her joy would 
have been complete.” She referred to her former 
forebodings as to their fate. The latest tidings we 
had brought no promise of the future, and who can 
measure the intensity of a mother’s love for her 
children at such times as these. She is sacrificed 
daily on the cross of fear and hope. For all of 
which there is a fearful retribution in store for 
those who plunged this country in so unnatural 
and fratricidal strife, and for which this govern- 
86 


[THE ROCK, 

ment must atone under the inexorable law of com- 
pensation. 

The sufferings of our men are on the physical 
plane of existence, but the sufferings of our women 
were unceasing and borne each minute on a mental 
and higher plane. This is the suffering that caused 
the bloody sweat to stain the brow of the Saviour 
of mankind. And this is the anguish of soul that 
Southern women suffered for nearly four years, and 
amid it all toiled with their hands and prayed that 
the God of battle sustain and strengthen our brave 
men at the front. Without their helping hands and 
prayers and pariotic devotion, our little army could 
not have sustained the shock of the armies of the 
North and whole world to recruit their ranks for 
one year. 

Thus we see the important part the women of 
the South played in the great drama of the war 
of rebellion, contending for a principle coexistent 
with infinity; for a right principle is immortal, and, 
whether successful or not, will live on through 
eons of eternity. And some day the truth will be 
written in letters of living fire ; the memory of the 
women of the Confederacy will be a heritage pre- 
cious to her descendants and to the nation surpass- 
ing in sublime sacrifice that of Niobe of old, “who 
threw her children in the fire and with a bound 
followed them.” 

For days past unusual activity was noticed with- 
in the lines of the enemy; large bodies of troops 
passed up the valley to reinforce Sheridan. Offi- 
cers and men on leave of absence, hospital inmates 
and recruits from all sources came pouring up the 
valley pike to swell the already overwhelming num- 


88 


THE ROCK 


bers of the enemy for the final assault on Lee’s 
small band of tried heroes by the opening of 
spring. 

One day as we sat in the room, two straggling 
infantrymen came to the gate and asked for water 
in a foreign and half-intelligible brogue. Bert and 
I were watching from the window, Thelma and 
Gladys were standing in the doorway, and mo- 
tioned them to the rear of the house, which, after 
some difficulty, they understood. Getting the wa- 
ter, they resumed their journey. They were large, 
stout men, soft and ruddy complexions, with the 
map of Ireland and Germany stamped on their 
faces. When gone, Gladys came to us, and said: 
“We expected every minute that you would kill 
them.” “No, no,” said Bert; “these men were un- 
armed, and we do not kill without giving them a 
chance; we war against armed men only, but, had 
they been insolent and insulting, neither would 
have reached the gate.” 

That night, seated around the fireside, I told the 
family that the enemy was moving up the valley 
in force, and the many stragglers through the coun- 
try made it hazardous for us to remain at their 
home longer, however much we would like to stay ; 
that we were liable to be seen some day, and this 
would bring trouble, as we did not propose to be 
captured and remain in prison until the war was 
over (and this was now the policy of the Federal 
government), and in the event of a brush here with 
us the family would be suspected of harboring us, 
which would subject them to all manner of atroci- 
ties and cruelty, burning the place or perchance 
murdering the whole family. We were now fully re- 


i 


THE ROCK 89 

stored to strength, and wished to share in the strug- 
gles and privations of our comrades, and thus be 
free to act as duty would dictate, for which we 
alone would be responsible, and not arouse suspi- 
cion against them. 

“After due consideration of our present environ- 
ment and for the best interest of the family, we 
have decided on this course of action; and to serve 
you in case of emergency we will hereafter make 
our permanent habitat at ‘The Rock/ ” All listened 
with sadness and earnestness to what was said. 
Mr. Dearing spoke: “It may be best, but we shall 
feel lonely when you are gone and very insecure ; 
we have become such warm friends that we wish 
to hear or see you as often as your safety will war- 
rant a visit to us.” The young ladies and Mrs. 
Dearing heartily urged the last request. 

It was the last day in the year 1864, and having 
retired for the night, we had slept possibly two or 
three hours, when Mr. Dearing rapped loudly on 
our door and told us that he heard the sound of 
horsemen coming down the pike road in Luray 
Valley at a rapid pace, for us to dress quickly and 
be on the alert. Dressing quickly, we took our 
guns and went out to the verandah to await the 
arrival of the horsemen. They slackened their pace 
as they approached the gate and hailed. Bert an- 
swered. They said: “Are Brady and Bert here 
yet?” to which Bert replied: “You are talking to 
the parties sought, but who are you?” 

They said: “We are couriers sent by General 
Rosser with a note to the Dearing family at Love- 
land.” “With pleasure we will acquaint the fam- 
ily of your mission,” said Bert.” 

“We are in great haste to return, and, if you will 


THE ROCK 


90 

kindly deliver the message, we will hasten on.” 
Advancing to the gate, they handed us the mes- 
sage, and, bidding us good night, hastened away. 
The family was awaiting our return, anxious to 
learn the news, having heard the conversation be- 
tween us. I handed the message to Mrs. Dearing’s 
trembling hand. She glanced at the address, and, 
recognizing the handwriting as that of General 
Rosser's, with a cry, “Oh, my poor boys,” fell in 
a faint to the floor. We picked her up and laid her 
on the bed, and by the vigorous application of 
restoratives consciousness was restored. Still 
clutching the fatal message in her hands, she 
handed it to me, saying: “Brady, please read, and 
let me know the worst.” 

The message ran thus: 

“Headquarters Rosser’s Cavalry Division, 
“Near Lynchburg, Va., Dec. 31st, 1864. 
“Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Dearing, 

Loveland, Luray Valley, Va. 

“My Dear Friends: 

“With profound sorrow, I have to announce to 
you the untimely death of both of your noble sons, 
John and Edgar, who fell in the front of the battle 
of this date, nobly illustrating Southern valor and 
shedding lustre on the grand old commonwealth 
of their sires. It was my good fortune to person- 
ally know them intimately and to be able to testify 
to their valor, courage and devotion to the cause of 
their beloved Southland on many bloody fields, and 
especially am I proud of their chivalrous bearing 
and courageous action in the fierce and unequal 
conflict of this day, in which they most nobly held 
their ground, slaying a half dozen of the enemy 


i THE ROCK 


9i 


each in a hand-to-hand fight of an hour’s duration. 

“They fell with shouts of victory ringing in their 
ears of their dauntless comrades, but it was dearly 
bought at the sacrifice of two such noble sons. I 
shall keenly feel their loss. 

“To you their memory will be a priceless heri- 
tage. . 

“With most sincere sympathy for you and their 
lovely sisters, I remain, 

“Very sincerely, 

“Gen. T. L. Rosser.” 

The grief of the family was pathetic and touch- 
ing. Never was a family more devoted to each 
other; they loved tenderly and affectionately. The 
two sons were polite, high-spirited, polished and 
honorable specimens of true Southern gentlemen. 
They responded with alacrity to the call of their 
country, and were ever ready to go where duty de- 
manded arduous and heroic service. They were 
ideal sons and brothers; their sisters simply wor- 
shiped them, hence the poignancy of their grief. 
Mr. Dearing shared in silence the distress of the 
others, and Mrs. Dearing, soon composing herself, 
said : “I have felt troubled in mind and spirit since 
ten o’clock to-day. Once dear little babes, bright- 
eyed, nestling on my bosom, tenderly nurtured 
through infancy to joyous childhood, indulging the 
bright hope of honorable careers when men, now 
lying in lonely and rude graves of soldiers on a dis- 
tant battlefield. I saw them slain and dying, and 
tried to dispel the thought as a mental hallucina- 
tion, the product of a mother’s fears for her loved 
ones, but I could not get away from it; then, too. 


92 


THE ROCK 


I knew that under great stress of mind souls en rap- 
port can transmit messages to their loved ones far 
away. The last thought of my dear children was of 
their mother/’ 

All this was said with melting pathos, and it 
seemed that their hearts would burst within them. 
I never witnessed such deep and distressing grief in 
all my life before. The cries and agony of the sis- 
ters, one after another, as they told how manly this 
one was, how kind and tender the other and their 
consideration for their sisters’ welfare at all times. 
And the grey suits we had on, once John’s and 
Edgar’s, now vested with reverence anew. 

In the dilemma in which we were placed, we 
thought of Job’s friends, who kept silent for seven 
days, seeing his great distress and sore afflictions. 
I took Gladys by the hand, and led her out on the 
verandah into the fresh air, saying: “My dear, the 
cool crisp air will do you good; it is healthy; now 
breathe deeply of its vitalizing elements and feel 
its exhilarating effects. Be assured, my dear, life 
and death are necessary to human happiness, and 
who will say that death is not as good or what to 
us seems death is only the beginning of another 
in some other form, possibly on a higher plane of 
existence. And rather than lose in the cause in 
which we are battling I pray daily for death on the 
field of glory. Should the South be defeated in the 
end, we lose all but honor, and those who fall on 
the field of strife may be the lucky ones.” 

She listened attentively as we walked up and 
down the verandah, with now and then a subdued 
sob like a little child trying to control her emo- 
tions. And now she had regained utterance, and 


i THE ROCK 


93 


said: “Oh, Brady, how good and kind you are to 
me. I will love you always, for I never thought of 
it in that light I love you for your brave heart, 
your kind and tender feelings and for your great 
wisdom. It is so comforting to hear you talk on 
any subject. You have always told me the truth, 
and I believe in you and will trust my all with you 
so long as I live.” 


CHAPTER XV. 


A FIGHT AND VICTORY. 

I took my kerchief, and, wiping her eyes and face 
stained with hot scalding tears, said: ‘'Now, dear, 
be brave; it makes my heart ache to see you thus 
grieved.” She laid her head on my breast, and re- 
plied: “Dear, I can do all things, and will for 
your dear sake.” “There, now, that will do ; we will 
now return to the room; the promenade has been 
beneficial to you, but we must not stay out in the 
night air until you are chilled.” 

Bert was trying to comfort Thelma, and Mrs. 
Dearing, talking incoherently, as if her boys were 
present, said: “The war is now over; stay with 
us; this is home, and mother will be lonely if you 
go off. I was wont to care for your every want, 
and rejoice in unbounded happiness with you.” 
Then, consciousness returning, in great agony of 
soul, she said: “Killed on the battlefield; dead 
heroes to as sacred a cause as ever inspired free- 
men. Noble sacrifice. It is all I had to offer; God 
help us to bear it.” A smile lit up her countenance, 
and from that moment she evinced a beautiful resigna- 
tion to the decree of heaven, though it told wonder- 
fully on her nervous system. 

Then said Bert: “I am glad to witness your tri- 
umph, and trust these lovely daughters will emulate 
your Christian example.” 

94 


THE ROCK 


95 


The bearers of the fateful message had told us 
to be on our guard, that great activity was manifest 
in the camps of the enemy; that detachments of 
their cavalry were scouring the country in all di- 
rections to intercept us and prevent us from rejoin- 
ing our troops; that our exploits were known by 
the enemy, and the Dearing family were suspected 
of giving us aid and comfort. “So on the morrow 
we will repair to ‘The Rock/ ” we declared, “and 
be in readiness for what may turn up. We do here 
and now solemnly swear by the great eternal that 
ten Yankee soldiers shall forfeit their lives for each 
of your sons.” 

The next morning the family provided us with 
ample supplies of provisions, and bidding them an 
affectionate farewell, as we thought for the last time, 
we took all our guns and as much ammunition as we 
could carry and leisurely wended our way down the 
road toward Strasburg. 

It was with reluctance that we left the hospitable 
mansion of the Dearing family, not knowing 
whether or not we would ever see them again. As 
we journeyed, sadly and in silence, we thought of 
our sweethearts behind, the many pleasant days, 
weeks and months we had spent in their gracious 
society over the fields, woods and mountain tops; 
the rippling laughter, the songs that filled the val- 
ley, and echoing back from mountain to mountain, 
filled all space with delightful harmonies ; their 
many benefactions to us and the promises of undy- 
ing love; all of which fell with crushing force on 
our hearts as we paced the broad road. We turned 
to take one look behind, and there in the road stood 
the objects of our thoughts and affections, franti- 


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\ 


96 


cally waving their handkerchiefs at us and point- 
ing with the other hand up the Luray Valley. We 
stood several minutes trying to divine the meaning 
of their signals ; they ran a few rods toward us, and 
waved us to “The Rock,” which we now under- 
stood as danger signals. Leaving the road, we 
made all speed to the foot of the mountain, which 
we scarcely gained ere six Yankee cavalrymen came 
thundering down the road and, stopping opposite 
us, began to fire on us rapidly. We took cover 
behind the large trees, and returned the fire with 
fearful effect. 

In an incredibly short time four of these war- 
riors were unhorsed, and the remaining two sought 
safety in flight at a break-neck speed in the direc- 
tion of Strasburg, and, being in easy range of our 
carbines, we hastened their speed by taking a shot 
on the wing. Bert, in his usual flippant style, said : 
“Brady, we will now replenish our ordnance sup- 
plies/’ With a cautious eye down the road, we ap- 
proached the scene of blood. Four men lay stricken 
and still in death — one captain, one non-commis- 
sioned officer and two privates. The captain wore 
on his fingers two fine diamond rings of great value, 
and a gold watch in his pocket, also diamond cuff 
buttons and shirt studs of rare brilliancy. 

We took charge of the four horses, the sword and 
belt of the captain, the carbines and cartridges of 
the other men, and, each mounting one and leading 
another, rode at once to the Dearing home. We de- 
livered the horses to Joe with instructions to con- 
vey them with all haste to the ranch and hasten 
back. Thelma and Gladys ran out, and forcibly led 
us into the house to get the details of our encoun- 


i THE ROCK 


97 > 


ter. When seated, Bert hastily gave them an ac- 
count of the affair, with its results. They heard the 
party say as they went by that they would kill or 
capture us within an hour; that they knew where 
our hiding place was, and heard the guns very dis- 
tinctly and feared for our safety. Bert said that 
we had a narrow escape, but no casualties on our 
side ; theirs were one captain and three men dead, 
as evidence of our marksmanship; that, as for us, 
the war was on in earnest from now on. “Your 
brother's death we will avenge, and this is only the 
beginning," we declared. 

Receiving the congratulations of our friends, 
which were showered with great prodigality, we re- 
turned to “The Rock." Our apprehensions were 
not divulged to the young ladies at present, but we 
urged them to send Joe to us as soon as he returned 
from the ranch. Late in the evening Joe was sent 
to us, as the soldiers wanted him ; passing the scene 
of the conflict, we saw him around the bodies, and 
he then came to us with his hat in his arms. It 
contained all the valuables that had been on the 
dead. Pouring the contents out, Bert asked me to 
take first choice; of course I appropriated the fine 
diamond ring, and Bert took the other, valued re- 
spectively at twelve hundred and eight hundred dol- 
lars. Joe got some gold and other valuables, but I 
told him not to tell his mistress of the fact that he 
had turned robber of dead men. 

“No, sir; Ise sho neber gwine tell dat." Bert took 
Joe into “The Rock," and showed him our port 
holes, and explained to him their use, etc. He ex- 
amined it minutely, saying that he could kill a 
man standing in the road every shot; that he 


9 8 


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wanted to try his gun on the Yankees for killing 
his young masters, and would like a chance to even 
up. We told him that to-morrow morning, if he 
would come here, we might be able to give him a 
chance to show his nerve if he had any ; that there 
would be some excitement down where the dead 
bodies lay, and, if any passed the road in the morn- 
ing, they would feel our lead. He promised to be 
on time. The writer sent the following note to 
.Miss Gladys: 

“ The Rock/ near Loveland, Va. 

“Jan. 13th, 1865. 

“Miss Gladys Dearing, 

“Loveland, Va. 

“Adorable One: 

“I send you this note to advise you that on the 
morrow we will be attacked by superior numbers, 
in all probability. We expect them to remove the 
dead under cover of night, as those who escaped 
will report to their comrades, and a force will be 
sent to kill or capture us at an early hour, with a 
piece of artillery to dislodge us. We expect more 
bloody work, and, be assured, we feel sufficient for 
the occasion, and expect a victory, as usual. Please 
send Joe back to us early, as he wants to lend aid. 
You will doubtless hear the boom of their cannon, 
and the rattle of small arms will tell that we are 
firing back; as soon as we rout them, we will re- 
port results. Our trust is in God. 

“Devotedly yours, 

“Bradfute Warwick.” 

We slept soundly all night and arose with the 
sun. True to his promise, Joe was early on hand, 


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bringing some dainty refreshments, made by beau- 
tiful hands, together with an answer to my note, 
as follows: 

“Loveland, Jan. 14th, 1865. 

“My Dearest Brady: 

“Your welcome letter by Joe received, forecast- 
ing the expected events of to-morrow and breathing 
your usual buoyancy of spirit that I am almost re- 
assured of your safety. I do earnestly pray that if 
you have to fight that your life, which is bound up 
in my own, will be spared, and that you will not un- 
necessarily expose yourself. Remember, dear, we 
are one in thought, in aspiration, hope and love. I 
shall be distraught with fear until I see you again, 
and please let us know, at once, results. We shall 
all pray earnestly that no harm befall either of you. 

“Most devotedly yours, 

“Gladys.” 


CHAPTER XVI) 

A SECOND BULL RUN. 

The mountains in winter, dressed in snowy white- 
ness, the dazzling reflection of the sun’s rays there- 
on make locomotion painful and difficult. Stand- 
ing on the topmost summit of the highest peak of 
the Blue Ridge chain, we survey the entire sur- 
rounding valley, and trace the winding course of 
the now famous Shenandoah River as it went on to 
mingle its waters with the majestic Potomac, then 
to lose themselves in the broad waste of the violent 
Atlantic. 

A few little snow birds were all of the feathered 
tribe that could be seen, seeking a scanty susten- 
ance under the projecting rocks, with an innumer- 
able host of gray squirrels as companions on the 
same errand darting up the trees, leaping from rock 
to rock and mining through the crusted snow to his 
storehouse below, and darting out with a chestnut 
in his mouth, with perfect immunity partook of his 
repast, and in a few moments would drop the shell 
and hasten to the hole in the snow for another. I 
went and picked up the discarded shell, and found 
that his work was well done. 

Bert had gotten a note from Thelma, expressing 
great solicitude for his safety; that she hoped to 
see him soon unharmed, and that, after the war was 
over, to have the pleasure of a visit from him at 
the mansion in Loveland. 

joo 


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lor 


As we predicted, the dead were removed in the 
darkness of night, and at about nine o’clock in the 
morning we heard the rattle of wheels as they rolled 
along the hard, stony pike. We made ready for 
their reception should they come out to capture us. 

Joe informed us that several parties passed the 
place on yesterday and acted rudely and boister- 
ously in the presence of the young ladies. 

The colonel in command told Mr. Dearing that 
he was giving shelter and comfort to Confederates 
who hid in the mountains ; that on two occasions 
his men had been killed, six in number, and that, if 
it occurred again, he would be hanged, and his wife 
and daughters would be sent to prison. This fright- 
ened the family greatly. A group of ten grim sol- 
diers stood at the entrance of the house, ready to 
do the dirty and cowardly work of their colonel. 
He wore the uniform of an officer with the insignia 
of his rank, though devoid of the commonest in- 
stincts of a man or officer. With the air of a bra- 
vado he stood threatening this old and defenceless 
man with a hangman’s rope and his feeble and aged 
wife and daughters with a felon’s cell in some 
Northern prison. 

Gladys, by great effort, had restrained herself un- 
til now. She said: “You are no gentleman, sir, 
nor a brave man, but an ignominous coward, a dis- 
grace to the cause you profess and the men you 
command, to thus threaten aged people and defence- 
less girls. Our men do not make war on such, but 
seek such as you. I hope and pray that you will 
meet them, and, if you do not run, you will learn 
how brave soldiers fight.” He shrank back under 


1102 


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her fiery denunciations, a girl of sixteen, amidst thei 
jeers and laughter of his men. 

As he walked out, he said: “I will return in ten 
days and raze the house.” “You can burn our 
home, destroy everything visible, but you cannot 
conquer our spirits,” said she. “Well,” said the 
brute, “you are a violent and interesting little chit ; 
I will step in and hear you further,” replied the offi- 
cer, walking rapidly to the doorsteps. Gladys met 
him, her eyes flashing defiance, and in a cool, de- 
liberate manner drew from under her apron a Colt’s 
six-shooter, and, pointing it squarely at his breast, 
said: “You will never cross this threshold alive, 
sir. Be gone, you cowardly wretch.” He turned 
sullenly, and walked out of the gate, mounted his 
horse amid the shouts and derisive laughter of his 
men, and rode off. His men gave her a rousing 
cheer, saying: “Hurrah for the little rebel girl,” 
and waved their hats and hands as far as they could 
see her. 

It will be seen how this doughty colonel returned 
in less than ten days to sack the place, and how he 
was met by this brave little girl of sixteen. 

When Bert was told of the insolent conduct of 
the officer, it aroused the lion in him, and he said : 
“I wish I could meet the wretch in a personal en- 
counter at a distance of ten paces. I would give 
him the first shot, and kill him before he fired 
again.” 

A small squad of men came to the Dearing home, 
and began to plunder the spring house, destroying 
the contents, breaking the vessels and demolishing 
the bakery, and carried off as many chickens as 
they could carry. Thelma told them that when 


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General Lee was in Pennsylvania he issued strin- 
gent orders that no insult should be offered any 
female or noncombatant and that private property 
should not be molested under a severe penalty; that 
we did not make war on women and children, but 
only on the armed forces of the United States. This 
order was made for its political effect, and not for 
fear his men would not demean themselves as true 
gentlemen and honorable soldiers of the chivalrous 
South. 

The writer himself can certify that, while Gen- 
eral Lee and his army were in Northern territory, 
the men were respectful to us, but the average 
woman seemed to think it would give them patri- 
otic notoriety to act toward us in a coarse, sarcastic, 
insulting and unlady-like manner. In Chambers- 
burg I went to the gate of a residence, and politely 
asked to be allowed to go in and get some water, 
when a red-headed miss of about twenty abruptly 
and insultingly refused me, saying: “You will soon 
meet our army, and I hope you will every one be 
killed.” Her father and brother were in the army, 
and she had one brother killed at Chancellorsville, 
Virginia. “Yes,” said I, “and I was in that battle, 
and it may be that I am the boy that did it.” Then 
I left her in a fit of rage; the language used would 
be unprintable in a story like this. 

But the South and its people, who were so bit- 
terly hated by many of the North, and is hated still, 
will some day save this government from anarchy 
and ruin. 

The morning was cool and chilly, the air clear 
and sharp; not a cloud was to be seen. We took 
our daily observations, having a good view of both 


104 


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valleys for miles. The nimble little animals seemed 
to feel immunity from danger, and playfully skipped 
around us with unusual recklessness. 

The snow began to melt under the genial rays of 
the sun ; the bracing morning air imparted vigor to 
mind and muscle, and we felt as sprightly as the 
little creatures that constituted our only compan- 
ions. In the remote distance we saw a cloud of 
dust arising in the direction of Strasburg, which 
gradually grew nearer and nearer, but apparently in 
no great haste. As we had anticipated, their ob- 
jective point was “The Rock,” and we at once made 
preparations to receive them. We told Joe to look 
and see the number we had to fight, and if he could 
not stand the racket he might now retire honorably. 
He replied “that he would stay wid you boff, if de 
whole business comes,” his large, flat nose dilating 
and collapsing in rapid succession. “It is business 
now,” said Bert, as the cavalry and one cannon 
rounded the point of the mountain on which we 
stood. “We will go into 'The Rock/ and be ready 
to fire on them as soon as they halt in the road 
where the others fell on yesterday. 

“We must direct our fire on the horsemen first, 
and kill every one of them before we turn fire ori 
the artillerymen. They will be in full view and 
easy range, and we ought to get our man at each 
shot; be steady and aim sure, and ours is the vic- 
tory.” 

Cautiously they came, scanning the foot of the 
mountains and fields as they went to their doom. 
The horsemen were in front, and, arriving at the 
place where their friends fell the day before, halted 
and faced the mountain; the artillerymen unlim- 


THE ROCK 


105 

bered their piece, and at the signal from Bert three 
rifles rang out on the morning stillness, and three 
saddles were emptied, and in rapid succession we 
kept up the fire. The cannoniers had now charged 
their piece and opened on us with grape shot and 
canister, which rattled down the mountain's rocky 
sides with metallic ring, when we turned our guns 
on them with fearful effect. One lone cavalryman 
was seen flying back toward Strasburg, and to ac- 
celerate his pace directed our shot at him, killing 
his horse before he made the bend in the road, but 
he continued his flight on foot and thus escaped. 

One shell at the right place would have put us 
out of business or rendered our defenses untenable. 
In an incredibly short time after we had dispersed 
or killed the cavalryman, not a man was to be seen, 
and the cannon silenced. We now watched the 
scene closely for the space of one hour, and, seeing 
no one astir, decided to survey the field of action 
more closely, and descending the mountain ven- 
tured to the position of the enemy. A horrible spec- 
tacle presented itself. Eight dead and two mortally 
wounded, one escaping to tell the tale. 

To the wounded we gave water, made them as 
comfortable as time would permit, and, taking six 
of the best horses with their equipage, hastened to 
the Dearing mansion. They had heard the guns, 
and the young ladies had been standing in the road 
since the firing ceased, looking toward Strasburg 
in hope of learning some tidings of the conflict. We 
emerged from the turn in the road, when they rec- 
ognized us and came running toward us, waving 
their hats in the greatest delight. They were 
amazed at our success, and exulted at the evidence 


10 6 ZHE ROC l a 

of our victory. Mr. and Mrs. Dearing declared that 
we were the most wonderfully lucky boys they ever 
knew. 

Before we had time to give the family the de- 
tails of the affair, Captain Blake appeared at the 
door, walked in and cordially greeted the family, 
and then said that he had startling information to 
impart to all of us. He told us with accurate de- 
tail of the affair we were just discussing; how he 
had obtained his information ; being in the enemy’s 
lines when the single survivor arrived; the conster- 
nation it had produced; likewise the order made 
and its brutal purpose to sack and raze the Dearing 
home that night and possibly murder the whole 
family. He advised the removal of all to some place 
of safety without a moment of lost time. He -stated 
that he had ridden ten miles since learning their in- 
tention, and now the day was far spent. 

All of us went to work in great haste to meet 
the emergency, and in a short time a large wagon, 
to which was hitched two of the best horses, was 
loaded with the valuables of the household, such as 
money, jewelry, etc., with trunks packed with wear- 
ing apparel for each and the necessary bedding, and 
Mr. and Mrs. Dearing seated therein, we told Joe 
to drive with all speed to Front Royal, to cross the 
river before nightfall, and thence to Charlottesville 
within our lines. 

The young ladies we proposed to escort on horse- 
back, with Captain Blake’s assistance, out of harm’s 
way. I suggested to Bert and Captain Blake to give 
them one more rap before decamping. “Flow do 
you propose to do it?” asked Captain Blake. “My 
plan is to take a horse each and to lie in wait for 



The Bridal Tour and Home Trip. 


( Page / 06 ) 





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io 7 


the marauders until they come to the Dearing man- 
sion after night. The young ladies are good shots 
and riders and know the country perfectly.” I added 
that Captain Blake would advise us of their com- 
ing, and on arriving at the mansion, and finding 
that their game was gone, riot and revelry would 
begin, and Captain Blake would let us know when 
it attained its height, when we would ride up to 
the gate and fire on the mob, emptying our sixteen 
shots and then our pistols into them, then hastily 
ride off before they could pursue ; besides, the night 
will be very dark until about ten o’clock. This will 
give our young heroines a taste of battle. 

The young ladies both assented, and said that 
they saw nothing to prevent us from carrying the 
plan into successful execution. 

“Well,” said Bert, “what do you think of the 
plan, Captain Blake?” “I think it a bold but feasi- 
ble one, and I will undertake to keep you posted as 
to the time of their coming and give you the benefit 
of my presence and services.” All ready, we rode 
into the thicket bordering the mountain. “Here 
you will find us when the psychological moment ar- 
rives,” said Bert. 

“Captain Blake,” said Gladys, “we are indeed 
pleased to have the benefit of your aid and presence 
on this important adventure.” He then rode off to 
join us later. 


CHAPTER XVII 

BACCHANALIAN REVELRY AND SLAUGHTER. 

Captain Blake had told us that Colonel Spitzer, 3 
German, would command the expedition to sack 
and burn the Dearing mansion, and described him 
so minutely that the young ladies recognized him 
as the official who had threatened them so recently. 

Concealed at the base of the mountain in a dense 
growth of ivy, we tethered our horses and waited in 
patience for the eventful moment when we should 
start to execute a plan fraught with danger to every 
member of the party, should our conjectures fail to 
come true. 

We took the precaution to secure the horses the 
young ladies rode with halters, by which we were 
to lead them to prevent them from becoming un- 
manageable by their riders. We sat down on the 
leaf-carpeted ground, and chatted as gleefully as if 
at a sylvan picnic. One thought gave us great con- 
cern, the fear our horses would betray our presence 
by neighing when the party passed so near on their 
incendiary errand, and thus reveal our presence, but 
not so ; they were quiet as their riders. 

The waiting did not seem long; the novelty of 
the occasion amused and interested us greatly ; two 
beautiful and high-bred young ladies, refined and 
intelligent, being with us, hid in the mountain 
darkness; as companions, two daring and reckless 
108 


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109 

rebel boys as ever marched to battle in defense of 
Southern manhood and freedom with loving and 
trustful confidence, were ready to go into we knew 
not what, and expose our lives in an undertaking 
which might quail the bravest masculine heart. 

We began to upbraid ourselves for allowing the 
ladies to accompany us; that peradventure one or 
both might be killed or wounded, and we had prom- 
ised their parents to see them safe from harm. Their 
charming trustfulness gave us pain ; we knew what 
might happen. They seemed to have no thought 
or conception of the dangers we were about to lead 
them into, delightfully oblivious to the perils of the 
situation. All these thoughts seemed to invest them 
with a thousand charms never before seen. They 
talked and laughed, sang for us, sotto voce , in love’s 
sentiment, joked and jollied us in the most non- 
chalant manner. 

We could say nothing. Bert and I sat stupefied, 
and then Bert excused himself, and we walked a little 
way and fell on our knees, and prayed for their 
safety, and then returned to them. Gladys said: 
“You have been praying for us; why did you go 
off?” “We never engage in anything dangerous 
without first invoking divine aid, and we only fol- 
low the example of the Saviour by going a little 
way from His companions.” “We see now,” said 
Gladys, “the secret of your success. You are sol- 
diers of the cross first and then soldiers of the 
South. We know that we are safe in God’s hands.” 
“Yes,” said Bert, “God within us has answered our 
prayers. We never cease praying until we are an- 
swered. We have nothing to fear now.” 

Soon after nightfall we heard the coming of the 


no 


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cavalcade to burn the place and capture the in- 
mates, but the bird had flown, much to their cha- 
grin and disappointment. They passed within five 
rods of us, in all about one hundred, and, dismount- 
ing at the mansion, tied their horses to the fence 
and to trees surrounding the premises; lighting 
flambeaus, entered upon the work of plundering. 
Great throngs surged into the main building and 
parlor, tearing down lace curtains and bric-a-brac, 
opening bureaus, demolishing pictures, tearing up 
carpets, etc. Men carried into the yard beds, mat- 
tresses, pillows, bedclothing, chairs, settees — indeed, 
everything they could find and carry out ; then into 
the kitchen and lastly to the cellar, where were kept 
and left for the plunderers two barrels of apple 
brandy, over which they were pushing and scram- 
bling to get at the contents. 

To all of this Captain Blake was an eye-witness, 
and, knowing that the moment had arrived to make 
our contemplated attack, he leisurely rode up to 
where we were anxiously waiting for a word from 
him. He told us to mount and follow him ; that the 
opportune moment had arrived when they would 
fall easy victims to our guns; that there was no 
semblance of order, only a drunken mob, frenzied 
with drink, whooping, yelling and fighting among 
themselves. 

Captain Blake led the way. Bert and Thelma fol- 
lowed. Gladys and I brought up the rear. Arriv- 
ing at the gate, we fronted and opened a rapid fire 
on the dense, drunken mob which stood in the yard 
and verandah, and many rushed into the parlor to 
shoot through the windows by the light of torches. 
Colonel Spitzer came staggering toward the gate, 


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SIB 

and demanded that the firing cease, and was recog- 
nized as the insolent and threatening officer of their 
home by Gladys, who deliberately sent a bullet 
through his body, killing him instantly. Thus we 
continued to fire as long as we had a cartridge in 
our carbines and revolvers, leaving the yard, veran- 
dah and rooms strewn with the dead and wounded. 
As we rode off, a few badly aimed shots were di- 
rected at us, but there was no serious damage. We 
sped on up Luray for about a mile, when Gladys 
asked me if I was hurt. “They slightly touched 
me in one arm,” I replied. She said that one of her 
curls had been shot off. “Give it me,” I replied. 
She did so, and I pushed it into my pocket, and we 
continued our flight, now in the direction of Front 
Royal. 

Five miles away, Captain Blake reined in his 
horse, and inquired if any of us were hit ; that as we 
rode off several random shots were fired at us, and 
he wished to know if there were any casualties. 

“I have a slight reminder on one arm,” said the 
writer. Bert said: “I have it in the shoulder.” 
“Brady has one of my tresses which a bullet cut 
off, in his pocket,” said Gladys. The party dis- 
mounted ; Captain Blake examined the nature of our 
wounds, which were found to be only trivial, and 
our feminine soldiers turned surgeons, tying their 
kerchiefs about our wounds. Captain Blake, turn- 
ing to Gladys, said : “Let me feel of the stub of hair 
on your head and see the extent of your injury. 
Yes, here is the stub,” and Bert and Thelma felt 
the place where it was clipped as though done with 
scissors. I produced the clipping from my pocket, 
and passed it around, saying: “This I will keep as 


112 


(CHE ROCK 


long as I live. The hair was cut off about an 
inch from the scalp/' Captain Blake said: “That 
was a very narrow, narrow escape/' Said Captain 
Blake: “Our loss is not anything in comparison 
to theirs. I place their loss at twenty-five killed 
outright and fifty wounded, and that is a conserva- 
tive estimate. Truly, it was one of the most dis- 
astrous encounters in which I was ever engaged, 
for which' we must give Brady the honor of con- 
ceiving and the young ladies the crown of heroines 
for its successful execution.” 

Gladys was exulting at the part she played in 
killing the brute who said that he would burn our 
home and carry us into captivity. “I never thought 
that I would be the instrument in ending his mis- 
erable and cowardly life,” she said. “I recognized 
him the moment he spoke, staggering toward us 
and commanding us to cease firing.” Thelma said : 
“I have seen all and more, too, than I ever want to 
see again ; it was perfectly horrible.” 

From where we now stood, we could see the 
lurid flames consuming the lovely old home, and 
we thought of the many happy days spent there 
with our good benefactors, dispensing their un- 
sought hospitalities ; of childhood days in happiness 
and prosperity; of the two aged and feeble makers 
of that once princely mansion, whose two sons now 
fill soldiers' graves ; of their two lovely and accom- 
plished daughters with us; the long and perilous 
journey now before us fraught to them and us with 
dangers we knew not of, before we could bring them 
safely and without harm to their waiting arms. 

Then said Captain Blake: “How beautifully the 
moon is shining. I must now leave you and make 


IS THE ROCK 


f H3 


my way into our lines before day, and you must 
cross the river at ford, about two miles be- 

low Front Royal. But before I bid you farewell I 
must thank our heroines again for the valuable 
services to their country in the late assault on the 
despoilers of their home, and I will pray for your 
safe arrival at Charlottesville to rejoin your loving 
parents, together with your brave escorts, whom I 
know will conduct you through in safety.” 

Thelma and Gladys shook hands with him cor- 
dially, regretting to part with so brave a man and 
honorable a soldier. 

Then said the writer: “Captain Blake, here on 
this spot and in your presence I wish to bestow a 
material memento to one of these young ladies for 
her aid and heroic services rendered in one of the 
most brilliant episodes of the war.” And drawing 
from my pocket a brilliant diamond ring, and taking 
her hand, pressed it on her finger, saying: “In 
memory of this night, and a token of our plighted 
vows to each other as lovers.” By the light of a 
small lantern Captain Blake carried, she pronounced 
it a handsome gift, saying: “My own dear Brady, I 
esteem it highly for the donor’s sake, and will al- 
ways wear it as a token of our vows, and this hour 
and this place will ever be sacred in memory’s 
niche.” 

Captain Blake adjudged it a jewel of rare value, 
worth at least twelve hundred dollars. 

Then Bert advanced and, taking Thelma by the 
hand, said : “And I, too, do present you a prize for 
your distinguished services in defense of home and 
country, and it, too, will be a token ever present of 
my undying love for the wearer.” “I esteem it. 


THE ROCK 


1 14 

Dear Bert, not alone for its intrinsic value, but 
doubly so as a gift from one whom I love most 
dearly, and it shall be my mascot through life,” said 
Thelma. 

“And I, too, am happy to know that you, my 
young friends, have won the love of two such noble 
boys as Brady and Bert, whom I have intimately 
known since the retreat from Yorktown, and I am 
pleased to bear testimony to their courage and dar- 
ing on many fields of carnage and blood. The time 
and circumstances of this, the most unique plight- 
ing of your young hearts and destinies for the 
future, on a treacherous highway surrounded by im- 
placable enemies, in the shadow of yonder moun- 
tain, with the beautiful moonbeams bedecking all 
nature in the most bizarre and spectacular manner, 
with a myriad of stars laughing approval and bear- 
ing witness to this solemn troth, make to my mem- 
ory this place and occasion sacred. Now I must 
bid you farewell, with my warmest congratulations 
to all concerned. I trust that each of you may un- 
harmed see the end of this strife, and that the reali- 
zation of your plighted vows will be happy in frui- 
tion, ending only in death, after a long life of con- 
jugal felicity.” 

A warm clasp of the hand and he was gone. We 
stood lonely and silent. Each felt the loss of a safe 
guide and counsellor, and scarcely realized it until 
the sound of his horse's hoofs were lost in the silent 
distance and gloom of night. The charm of his 
noble presence, the magnetism of his wonderful per- 
sonality held us in reverence and awe ; and now the 
situation almost overwhelmed us. Bert spoke first. 


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1115 


and said: “Brady, it is now up to us, and we must 
ride at once.” 

Assisting the young ladies to mount, we now be- 
gan our long and perilous journey down the river 
road, leading our companions’ horses slowly. 

We were nearing the ford of the river when we 
heard the sound of horses’ feet coming at brisk 
pace meeting us, and, hastily turning into an old 
and abandoned road, we avoided them. It was a 
party sent in pursuit of us. Then we returned to 
the main highway, and increased our pace, in order 
to gain the ford and cross the river and push on to 
Manassas Gap. Coming to a negro cabin, Bert 
hailed and aroused its only occupant, an old negro 
man, whom he forced to pilot us through the woods 
to the ford, thus avoiding the few Yankee pickets 
stationed to guard the different fords to prevent our 
crossing. After about two hours’ hard riding, we 
reached and crossed the river without mishap ; only 
the skirts of the young ladies were wet, the water 
coming up to the saddle, causing them to suffer 
greatly from cold, their clothing freezing in a few 
minutes. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE RIDE TO CHARLOTTESVILLE. 

When day at length came it was bitterly cold, a 
blinding snow driving in our faces; our heroines 
suffered greatly, but bore it without a murmur. W.e 
crossed the Blue Ridge at Manassas Gap, and soon 
arrived at the little town of Salem. The villagers, old 
men, women and children, came out to see the curi- 
ous troop as we alighted at a rickety old hotel kept 
by Mr. John Scoovendike and his good wife. The 
young ladies when lifted to the ground could not 
stand, so benumbed were their limbs by cold, and 
we were aided in carrying them into the house by 
the loyal old men and women of the village, and 
into a room where was a warm, glowing fire from 
oak wood. 

When thoroughly warming and thawing out the 
skirts of the young ladies, the villagers pressed in 
to see the feminine soldiery, but the good landlady 
had prepared a sumptuous breakfast, to which we 
were invited. We all thoroughly enjoyed the break- 
fast and especially the good, real coffee which, said 
the proprietress, “was given me by one of Rosser's 
cavalrymen as spoils of the battle." Refreshed by 
our breakfast, we went into the room, where we 
found the major portion of the entire village await- 
ing our return to hear the latest news from Love- 
land. We deferred to the young ladies the honor 
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[117 

of entertaining the assembly with an account of our 
experience for the past forty-eight hours. Gladys 
gave a vivid account of the fight at Loveland and 
our subsequent flight across the river to this place, 
to the delight of all present, and especially the la- 
dies, who asked many questions concerning the fight 
in which she was a participant. She showed the 
stub of hair from which the curl had been shot, and 
asked me for the treasure, that it might be exhib- 
ited also. I drew it from my pocket, saying that 
they could look upon it, but not handle it, as it 
was my greatest treasure, and I would not part with 
it for the gold of Ophir. 

While we rested and breakfasted, our horses were 
refreshed by a liberal supply of provender. We de- 
parted on our long journey to Warrenton in Fau- 
quier County amid the hearty felicitations of the 
entire populace of the little village. A disabled Con- 
federate volunteered to accompany us on our way as 
guide, which service was very acceptable. We ar- 
rived at eight o’clock at night, and stopped at the 
Planters’ Hotel. The young ladies occupied the 
same room in which they were locked up as prison- 
ers on their former visit under guard. Our coming 
was known early in the morning before we had 
arisen, and the proprietor summoned us downstairs 
to meet the crowd of people who had heard of our 
arrival; the news of our exploits had preceded us, 
and the hotel was thronged by people who wanted 
to see us, and an impromptu reception was held, 
and hundreds came and shook hands with the quar- 
tette, delaying our departure several hours. 

It was now ten o’clock a. m. with a thirty-five- 
mile trip ahead of us, and, horses and riders re- 


ns 


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freshed, we took to the saddle again, hoping to 
reach Charlottesville by night, the roads being in 
fine condition, riders cheerful and buoyant ; the first 
ten miles were made in alternate racing with the 
girls. The country, once inhabited by a wealthy 
class of happy and contented people, was now to- 
tally deserted; farmhouses, large and commodious 
in all their appointments, indicative of splendor and 
luxurious living, were now vacant; doors opened 
and windows smashed, not a living creature left. 
They presented a sad and melancholy spectacle 
along the entire route. In many instances the demon 
of war laid waste by fire every building, leaving 
monuments of a vandalism that should have shamed 
barbarians ; all of which were inspired by a pseudo- 
religious sentiment “more holy than thou.” 

We stopped at noon to rest, ate our luncheon, 
chatted and discussed the incidents of the last few 
days. “But this desolation,” said Thelma, “is sick- 
ening. I had no idea of such a thing; not a cow or 
pig or chicken left. How cruel the Yankees must be.” 

“Yes,” said Bert. “You will find it thus in all 
parts of the South where the enemy have overrun 
our country. This is a sad commentary on a Chris- 
tian nation of which they boast: ‘The best govern- 
ment the world ever saw/ — Selah.” 

The news of our coming had preceded us, and 
messengers had been dispatched toward Warren- 
ton to meet us. By some means we had missed 
them, and we arrived at Charlottesville at early twi- 
light, tired and exhausted, especially the young la- 
dies, who were tenderly borne to the large verandah 
of the hotel, Mr. and Mrs. Dearing anxiously await- 
ing them. 


ZHE ROCK 


Jig 


The people were wild with delight at seeing us, 
of whom so much had been heard in the valley of 
Luray. All of our exploits had been published in 
the Richmond papers. In an incredibly short time 
great crowds had assembled in the house ; verandah 
and the yard were full to overflow, so anxious to 
see and hear from the heroines, the first ladies of 
the South to actually engage in battle. 

Our wounds from long neglect became painful, 
and a physician was soon on the ground to admin- 
ister aid. He bathed and rebound them with fresh 
cloths. The young ladies received and kept the 
bloodstained kerchiefs. After a bounteous supper 
and return to the drawing-room, in our absence an 
informal reception was planned, so that all could see 
and shake the hands of each of us, and many con- 
gratulations were showered on us for heroic action 
and hair-breadth escapes. Mr. and Mrs. Dearing 
were profuse in thanks for our faithful promise to 
see the young ladies safetly returned to them. 

The physician who had dressed our wounds gave 
us certificates of disability until our wounds should 
heal. The proprietor of the hotel bestowed the hos- 
pitalities of his house as long as we desired to stay. 
A formal reception was tendered the next day at ten 
o’clock, which was then and there announced to all 
who desired to be present and hear recitement of 
the daring and heroic conduct of the soldier boys 
and soldier girls, the kidnaping of the girls and 
their subsequent rescue by the brave young men. 
The crowd then dispersed to their homes, and at 
eight the next morning began to arrive again at the 
hotel, and soon the large rooms, the verandah and 
corridors were packed with all ages and sexes. 


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The mayor of the town and all the officers of the 
municipality, with their wives and daughters, many 
army officers on leave of absence and on sick list, 
people of the town of all classes and from the sur- 
roundng country, far and near, and a train of ad- 
mirers all the way from Richmond were present to 
do us honor. 

The crowd was so numerous that two separate 
functions were held to give all an opportunity to see 
and hear us; one in the reception rooms with all 
doors leading thereto was thrown open, and an- 
other overflow affair held in the long verandah for 
the benefit of those who could not gain entrance 
into the main building, and those who stood in the 
yard. That was indeed a swell affair, was the con- 
sensus of all present, that such distinction was never 
given common soldiers in the ranks before, all of 
which the young ladies shared in the honors given 
us for their heroic devotion to the cause of the 
South, the dangers encountered in defense of home 
and their soldierly bearing in the night attack on 
the vandals sent to sack and burn their home. 

The girls were the chief interest to all, and many 
came forward to see the stump of detached ringlet 
cut away by a bullet from Gladys* head. Bert did 
all the talking, and gave vivid accounts of all our 
adventures and fights, the results of each and our 
pursuit of the kidnaped young ladies and the rescue. 
The minutest detail was invested with interest as 
Bert told it in his peculiar dramatic way. All en- 
joyed hearing the recital until it grew late, and with 
many expressions of admiraton they slowly dis- 
persed to their homes to talk over what they had 


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121 


seen and heard. Exhausted and fatigued by the 
arduous demands on us, we retired to rest for the 
night. 


< 


CHAPTER XIX. 


OUR FIRST RESPITE. 

During our convalescence reporters from Rich- 
mond came to interview us for further details of 
our last encounter, and the Dearing family, the dar- 
ing pursuit and rescue of the daughters, the fate of 
their captors and the safe return home to their dis- 
tracted parents and friends. 

Charlottesville was a thriving little town in the 
midst of a fertile and delightful country. Before 
the devastating hand of war had touched it, it was 
noted for its high-spirited, refined and intelligent 
people, proverbial for its hospitality and beautiful 
women. But now how changed the scene! Only 
old, tottering men, women, girls and children, and 
even these were the victims of most atrocious 
wrong at the hands of an insolent and cruel foe. At 
some time the law of compensation will adjust all 
these things long after the participants in those 
eventful days are gone hence, and peradventure ten 
generations have played the game of life on the 
nation’s checkerboard ; but, be assured, it will come. 

Three weeks of delightful pastime mixing and 
mingling in the best society, whose every door was 
open to us as most welcome guests; we recounted 
our past experiences of quite four years of desper** 
ate service to appreciative and intelligent audiences, 
attended with our feminine comrades, who were the 
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[123 

cynosure of all eyes and recipients of many compli- 
ments. Card parties and tea parties were frequently 
interspersed with dances, where all the town’s girls 
sought us as partners, seeing that we were both 
excellent dancers, to the evident chagrin of Thelma 
and Gladys, and many were the pointed darts aimed 
by Cupid, from which we were forced to dodge be- 
hind the helmet which Gladys and Thelma held for 
our protection and safety. 

In company with a bevy of beautiful girls, the 
elite of the town, we visited Monticello, the home 
of the great statesman, ex-president and exemplary 
citizen, Thomas Jefferson. Everywhere we went 
great deference and respect were paid us ; the young 
ladies always accompanying, and soon it was whis- 
pered by the town girls that Misses Gladys and 
Thelma were smitten with their comrades and es- 
corts. This was impossible to hide from the bright, 
intuitive eye of a pretty girl. “It is plain, though 
they both try not to show it, but they can’t help 
it,” said one. To which her companion replied: 
“Yes, I saw that the night of the reception, and 
thought any and everybody saw it.” “But,” said 
the minister’s daughter, “Miss Gladys has such beau- 
tiful eyes and face, and enveloped in a wealth of 
most becoming hair, that I don’t see how it is pos- 
sible to resist her charms ; and then she is so gentle, 
kind and sociable, the epitome of all grace.” 

At the dances there were no young men, for they 
were in the army, only boys under age, fourteen and 
fifteen years, whom the young ladies called shin- 
plasters, but this subsidiary social currency was 
legal tender in the absence of larger and older bills, 
although these little patriots were just shedding 


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knee pants. They were the butt of many wilting 
jokes by the older girls, which teased the young 
lads; still, in a measure, the youngsters held their 
ground with sarcastic rejoinders that caused a glow 
of red to mantle the cheeks of their tormentors. 

Fully restored to health and strength, we still had 
one week to our credit on our leave of absence, and 
determined to rejoin our command and report in 
person at General Lee’s headquarters, as ordered. 
Bidding our female comrades and lovers adieu, and 
the many friends we had made during our delightful 
stay in Charlottesville, with urgent requests by our 
respective sweethearts to write to them often, we 
mounted our faithful steeds and rode as rapidly as 
possible to Petersburg. After two hard days’ travel, 
we drew reins at the camp of our comrades, whom 
we had not seen since the fateful 19th day of Octo- 
ber, 1864, which consisted of a small squad of true 
and tried veterans. They received us with demon- 
strations of great joy, asking us many questions of 
our stay in the valley. 

One night at the camp sufficed, and next morning 
we handed our order from General Lee to our cap- 
tain, who glanced at it and told us to obey the or- 
der. By noon of the same day we walked into the 
tent of General Lee, saluted him and laid on the 
small table before him the original order sent 
through Captain Blake. He took up the order, 
scanned its contents, then arose ; extending his hand, 
told us to be seated on camp stools, and, resuming 
his seat at the table, remarked that Captain Blake 
had given him an account of our operations in the 
valley. Then, taking up a pen, he wrote an order, 
assigning us to duty on his personal staff, saying: 


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125 

“You will now report to my adjutant-general, Wil- 
liam H. Taylor, for duty.” 

It proved that our duties were to carry dispatches 
from him to the different corps commanders, and in 
one hour he sent for us. Upon approaching his tent, 
he handed us a dispatch to General Longstreet, say- 
ing: “This is a very important message, and the 
trip is a dangerous one. You must be ever on 
guard.” 

After giving us instructions how to go, he saluted 
and waved us aside. In eight hours we reported to 
him that the dispatch had been delivered, riding 
sixty miles. General Lee was the grandest per- 
sonage I ever saw. Simple as a child, modest as a 
girl, there was nothing repellent about him ; man- 
ners easy and gracefully dignified. He never ex- 
hibited perplexity, but was serene and calm; never 
excited under any circumstances; possessing the ut- 
most self-control. We had ample opportunity to 
study him, lunching from the same box and often 
from the same tin plate. He ate the same rations 
that fed his men; seldom any delicacies graced his 
board, unless sent to him by admiring citizens when 
camped in their vicinity. 

It soon became apparent to us that General Lee 
could not long hold his position at Petersburg 
against Grant’s stretching tactics, extending his 
lines to our right, so as to cut the railroad leading 
to Weldon, N. C., with Sheridan threatening his 
rear from the upper James, rendering it imperative 
to abandon his line of defense in front of Peters- 
burg, which was held by merely a thin skirmish 
line. 

There was but one fault the writer ever saw in 


126 


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him, which is pardonable, and to the honor of his 
shattered but glorious remnant of a gallant army, 
to wit: his unbounded confidence in his men. This 
was observed in the most unmistakable manner at 
Gettysburg, when Longstreet asked permission to 
flank the impregnable position held by the enemy 
on our right wing, and to which General Lee re- 
plied with unusual emphasis and warmth: “Gen- 
eral Longstreet, there is the enemy,” pointing to 
the front, and meaning that all he had to do was to 
lead his men to the attack ; they would do the work. 
But, after failure, said: “It’s all my fault.” No 
subordinate was ever blamed by him for failure ; he 
had unbounded confidence in his officers and men ; 
he knew their steadfast devotion to duty, their cour- 
age and gallantry had been illustrated on so many 
bloody fields under his own eyes that the seeming 
impregnable position, the high elevation, and diffi- 
cult to ascend, could not stand before the impetu- 
ous charge of his troops, that had so often shed 
lustre on Southern arms. Now they were few in 
number in comparison to the enemy, who had three 
to one. His men idolized him ; indeed, their love 
and reverence approaching worship; for all that, 
they could not perform the impossible. 

I will not recount the incidents which led up to 
the surrender on the fatal 9th of April, 1865. He 
had won the plaudits of the whole world, the re- 
spect of his enemies; he could rest with a fadeless 
glory crowning his noble brow, the verdict of man- 
kind. 

We wrote Thelma and Gladys, telling them that 
the war was over and of our intention to start home 
at once, to renew acquaintance of our families, 


i THE ROCK 


12 7 


whom we had not seen in four years, but to be sure 
to write us at Charlotte, N. C., to which place we 
now directed our steps. 


CHAPTER XX. 

THE JOURNEY HOME. 

After four years of arduous service as soldiers, 
exposed to all kinds of dangers from disease and 
death on the battlefields, ill clad and hungry, often 
three days without a morsel to sustain the body, 
through the cold of winter and the heat of summer, 
participating in all the battles fought in Virginia, 
Maryland and Pennsylvania, with the lone excep- 
tion of the first Manassas, in all more than twenty, 
besides the skirmishes innumerable, without a seri- 
ous wounded, often hit in some part of our cloth- 
ing; now our thoughts were of home, blessed home, 
and of parents, brothers and sisters dear; how the 
heart does thrill with j^y and thankfulness ! 

In sweet repose we wrapped our blankets about 
our weary limbs, and slept conscious of duty done, 
and home came more vividly to our dreams of how 
it looked as we turned our backs on that sacred 
spot, when we marched away to the sound of the 
fife and drum, little knowing what was in store for 
us. No bugle blast to call us from our restful slum- 
bers, not a roll of the drum, nor the orderly’s com- 
mand so often heard: “Fall in here, Company I, 
for roll call.” Many arose, and began, as was their 
custom, to roll up their blankets; others sat down, 
and began to search for mayhap a piece of bread or 
cracker remnant remaining in some crevice of their 
128 


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129 


haversacks, sad of face, gathering in groups and 
discussing the situation. 

But home was in the thoughts of these war- 
scarred and bronzed veterans, though in desolation 
and ruin ; it was all they had except honor, and to 
them it was home. 

The young of to-day will scarcely appreciate the 
thoughts that throbbed our brain and the emo- 
tions that heaved our breasts. Father and mother 
dear, we would greet seated in their old armchairs ; 
sisters loving and sweet, whom we remembered as 
small girls, now merging into womanhood, and 
brothers, too, grown out of our knowledge. Oh, 
what ecstatic joy thrilled the soul at the thought 
of occupying “the boys’ room” once more and sit- 
ting at the family board, where was plenty, and 
presided over by the best and dearest of mothers. 

Obtaining our paroles on the 15th, we approached 
a Federal officer, and asked if we could now depart 
for our homes. He said: “We could without mo- 
lestation from the forces of the government.” We 
mounted our noble steeds, and rode away toward 
our now desolate homes in the far-away Southland. 
There are times when solitude and silence are ab- 
solutely demanded, when men can commune with 
their own hearts, and, as the Psalmist says, “And 
be still.” We rode about five miles, and not a word 
was spoken by either of us; both were thinking of 
home and loved ones and the future. 

One day’s journey brought us to Charlotte, N. C. ; 
we got the expected missive, a genuine love letter, 
and in reply wrote them to direct their next to 
Bradytown, Ga. Their replies reached home before 
we did ; they were opened, of course, by our sisters, 


13 ° 


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and hence they knew our secrets ; also, that we were 
on our way home. Two weeks after leaving the 
place of our undoing, we arrived home ; though ex- 
pected, it was difficult for our people to realize that 
we were the same boys that left home quite four 
years ago. We soon made acquaintances of our 
little sisters and brothers; the happiness of fathers 
and mothers is indescribable. Oh, happy us. 

The neighbors far and near came to see us, and 
the young ladies also, who went to the same school 
through childhood. The news of our exploits pre- 
ceded us home, and we were the recipients of many 
commendations. Our time for the first week was 
spent in visiting familiar places, calling up old 
scenes in our childhood days. The creek running 
through the plantation, and the bathing holes there- 
in, and the fish holes where we used to angle for 
the perch, pike and pickerel. Parties, fish fries and 
dances were given in our honor where all the young 
people would attend, and immensely enjoyed by all. 

For a long time I dreamed of being in battles, 
saw the enemy firing at us, the roaring of cannon, 
the bursting of shells, the whistle of bullets, and the 
rebel yell, as real as life ; then I would awaken and 
find myself in bed and at my home, mentally say- 
ing: “No, the war is over and I am at home. Oh! 
blessed reality.” But time sped apace, and ere 
long the girls of the community discovered that, 
•though present in body, our hearts were far away 
in grand old Virginia, and we were the butt of 
many jokes by our old schoolmates and neighbor- 
ing girls, which they enjoyed at our expense. 

Between Bert and me, it was agreed to revisit 
Virginia on the first anniversary of Early’s de- 


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131 

feat — 19th day of October, and so wrote the girls; 
but we had received letters from Thelma and 
Gladys, saying that their mother’s health had 
steadily declined, never having recovered from the 
nervous shock produced by the news of her son’s 
death, and also their father from long anxiety and 
watching the bedside of mother, showed signs of an 
early breakdown himself; that they often spoke of us 
and wished to know when we contemplated visiting 
them, and when informed that we would be there on 
the 19th of October, they said: “Tell our boys to 
come at once, without delay, that we have very im- 
portant business matters to lay before them regarding 
the welfare of all concerned.” On receipt of this let- 
ter, we boarded the cars next morning for Richmond, 
and arriving there at ten o’clock next day, imme- 
diately wired the following telegram : 

Richmond, Va., Sept. 15, 1865. 
Misses Thelma and Gladys Dearing, 

Charlottesville, Va. 

At 5.30 P. M. will arrive at Charlottesville. 

Lovingly, 

BRADY & BERT. 

The historic old city which had for four long 
years baffied the best military skill of the Federal 
government, and the prowess of the largest army 
of modern times, backed by the whole world from 
which she drew heavily of the sinews of war in 
both men and material, stood a silent and mute 
witness to the everlasting glory of her defenders. 

The time in waiting for the train to Charlottes- 
ville was spent in strolling about the ruins of the 
city, trying to locate places that were once of 


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pecular interest to us. The writer left Bert and 
wended his way down on Cary Street, where, at 
the home of Mr. John Freeland, a wealthy tobac- 
conist, I had spent three weeks in the fall of 1861, 
sick with typhoid fever. My father had come to 
Richmond to see us, and found me sick in my tent 
and took me to the home of Mr. Freeland, where, 
under the motherly care of Mrs. Freeland, and the 
sisterly ministrations of Miss Maria and Rosa and 
daily visits of their family physician, Dr. Mataw, 
I was at the end of three weeks convalescent, and 
soon returned to duty. 

Thirty-five years after the close of the war, I 
attended a Confederate reunion in Richmond and 
visited the same spot on Cary Street, and seeing an 
old negro sitting down on the curbing, I paused 
and looked up at the buildings before me, to see 
if, perchance, I could recognize the Freeland home. 
I noted the old negro observed me closely, and I 
inquired of him if he was acquainted with the 
city. To which inquiry, he replied: “I’se libbed 
here Boss — always libbed in Richmond.” “Then,” 
said I, “can you tell me where Mr. John Freeland’s 
home is?” “Right here, Boss, you is standing right 
on de front ob his do-steps. De house he libbed in 
war burnt up by de sojers what run Mos Davis 
and his fambly out long, long ago. But Boss, 
please tell me what you disremember ob Mos John 
Freeland. It broked his heart rite squar into when 
da burnt his home and backer factry — and he’s 
dade.” 

I then told him that, in the first year of the war, in 
November, 1861, I was sick and stayed with the fam- 
ily, and Misses Maria and Rosa nursed me back to 


THE ROCK 


*33 

health, and I came to see if I could learn anything 
concerning any member of the family. “Where is 
Miss Maria and Miss Rosa? I would like so much 
to see and hear something of them,” I asked. “Old 
Miss, she done dade long time, and Miss Maria 
marrid an ossifer ob de war, an Miss Rosa she mar- 
rid too, an moved to Fluridy, soon after de conflag- 
eration ob de city — gone, Boss, all gone, you wont 
fine um here nebber agin.” 

It was indeed pathetic to hear the old negro tell 
about those good people he knew in the far-away 
past; the memory of whom carried him back to 
his own young manhood and better times than he 
was having now. He was old, ragged and poor; 
and I asked him how he was getting along in the 
world now, under freedom. At this, great tears 
stood trembling in his dim eyes, then dropped down 
his wrinkled face, his lips quivering, refused utter- 
ance to the emotions that welled u£ within him. I 
reached forth my hand and assisted him to an up- 
right position, and leaning heavily on his staff, he 
said: ‘Tse had a sho hard time since freedom come 
out, and Fse not myself, for dere is tousands in de 
same fix, what de war sturbed in a good home, 
and sent us out to scuffle for a libbin de bes we 
could. My ole oman, she gone dade jes like de 
res, and my chillen, gals and boys, are marrid and 
scattered frum here to New York and Fluridy, and 
what’s dey all doin, der fadder dun no. I libs alone 
wid myself in a house Mr. Johnson gibs to me; de 
cullud foks doan spects me at all, an doan care 
whedder I libs at all, but tanks be to Gawd, de 
wite peoples wat nowed me so long takes car ob 
me an I doan suffer for nuttin.” 


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I felt sorry for the old man, I knew he was tell- 
ing the truth, and thousands who once had plenty 
and no cares, were scattered all over the South. 
I gave him a silver dollar and bade him good-bye. 
“Good-bye Boss and God bless you for dis.” Many 
places of interest were visited; the old camp on 
Bloody-Run, where we were drilled, and “The 
Rockets,” just down on the river where we would 
run the gauntlet of guards at night to have a good 
time. 

The time for the train to start seemed an age to 
us, but at length “All aboard for Charlottesville,” 
and boarding the train we arrived on schedule time. 
Many people had gathered at the depot. In the 
midst of a great throng standing on the platform, 
stood two of the prettiest girls to us, and “The fair- 
est among ten thousand,” waved their handker- 
chiefs as a signal of recognition over the heads 
of the throng, while we were vainly trying to reach 
them. After a fierce struggle through the dense 
mass of people, we reached them, and falling into 
our arms, wept bitterly. Without speaking, they 
led us to a closed carriage in waiting, and on enter- 
ing we told the driver to walk his horses, as we 
wished to know the condition of their mother be- 
fore we reached the hotel. Said Gladys: “How 
fine and hearty you both look, and what a contrast 
in your looks now and when we first met, and I 
hope you are not naughty boys now.” Bert said: 
“Yes, we have been faring sumptuously since we got 
home ; but what we desire most is your happiness 
and family. How are your father and mother — bet- 
ter we hope?” Between plaintive sobs, which made 
our very hearts bleed, Thelma said: “Father and 


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135 


mother are very ill indeed, and we can’t tell which 
will go hence first. We have no hope of either liv- 
ing more than a few days or perhaps a few hours. 
Their physicians tell us time is very short with them 
both, and may end at any moment. They have 
often spoken of you for the past few weeks, and 
expressing great desire to see you, and that is the 
cause of our urgent letter to come at once. Father 
is physically very weak, though mentally strong. 
Mother is kept under the influence of opiates all the 
time to allay the pains, though conscious when 
aroused.” 

Gladys, whose same soft, liquid eyes washed by 
an effusion of crystal tears fascinated me as of 
old (delightful sensation), expressed the hope that, 
on seeing us, her mother would forget her suffer- 
ings and once more appear her real self again and 
enjoy our presence as of yore. The carriage now 
stopped at the front of the large hotel, the same 
place we had left them, and, greeting the many 
friends whose acquaintance we made on our former 
visit, followed the young ladies to the sick room. 
The daughters summoned the nurse by a gentle rap 
on the door, and we entered the room where their 
dear parents had so long lingered at the very brink 
of the river eternal. 

Thelma said: “Dear papa and mamma, here we 
have brought to you your soldier boys, the little 
army of Loveland, and I know you are so glad to 
see them.” At this a joyful look of recognition lit 
up the pale face of each, and Mr. Dearing, extend- 
ing his hand, said: “Thank God, our boys are 
with us once more.” Mrs. Dearing calmly smiled 
in heartfelt assent. Noting a nervous excitement in 


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136 

each, the writer said: “We are gladly here at your 
solicitation to do for you what may be in our power, 
or whatever you may suggest or request. It shall 
be our most pleasurable task. Be calm and as- 
sured. Take time, and only make your wishes 
known.” 

Mr. Dearing cast his eyes about the room, which 
his watchful daughters divined, and, handing us 
chairs, we took seats between the two beds. Bert 
said: “You know what we have been in the dark 
past. We are ever the same boys, anxious to serve 
you as in the perilous past that tried men's souls. 
The dark gloom of war is over. The demon of 
strife and blood has given place to the white- 
winged dove of peace, and we live in peace and 
hope. Yes, ‘hope an anchor to the soul both sure 
and steadfast,' and no storm can wrench our craft 
from its moorings.” The writer then spoke: “You 
know in whom you have believed. He will not 
desert nor forsake thee. God is a very present help 
in the time of need. Your own intelligence makes 
known the fact which, with profound regret, we all 
see, and to which we bow in submission: that you 
are lingering in the twilight of time with the golden 
rays of eternal morn shedding its beneficent influ- 
ence about your couch. My dear friends, be not 
alarmed; God's holy angels stand ready to grant 
.safe convoy to the land of spirits made perfect, and 
;nto the presence of loved ones gone before. The 
poet says : ‘I would not live alway.' ” 

This ordeal was more than the daughters could 
bear, and, giving way to their emotions, they wept 
bitterly, though I had told them that it was best 


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137 

to restrain their feelings for the well-being of their 
parents. 

“It is opportune,” said Mr. Dearing, “that you 
came at once. We are both conscious of an early 
dissolution.” In slow and labored sentences he con- 
tinued: “We will soon go home to our loved ones 
in that shadowy plane of a new and higher exist- 
ence, immeasurably higher and grander than this. 
Only these dear children will remain, whom we 
willingly commit to you, in God's name, for happi- 
ness and protection. All the property at Loveland, 
both real and personal, are theirs, share and share 
alike, and by solemn vows they are yours. We 
suppose you will remain in Georgia, in which event 
I would advise you to sell this property here, but 
of this be your own judges.” Here he rested a few 
moments, and drawing a plat of the premises, in- 
cluding the ranch on the top of the mountain, from 
under his pillow, and unfolding it, said: “This is 
a plat of all our possessions at Loveland, together 
with plat of the ranch and all personal property,” 
and, beckoning us to draw nearer, went into a de- 
tailed explanation of the same. “Here,” he said, “is 
a diagram of the orchard, showing the number of 
trees in each row, and in the seventh row of trees 
and the seventh tree in that row, seven feet and 
seven inches due south from that tree, two feet un- 
der the surface, you will find, on digging down, a 
sealed glass jar which contains in gold all our sur- 
plus savings during our lives, amounting to twenty 
thousand dollars, and which no one knows but my 
wife. You and Bert take this plat, and you will 
have no trouble in finding the treasure.” 

After this recital he was perceptibly weakened by 


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H38 

the exertion it imposed. “Only one thing more 
that I wish to say.” “Now, father,” said Gladys, 
“you have talked too much already ; you must rest.” 
“No, no,” said he; “it is only a little way now,” 
talking incoherently. “Before we die, we wish to 
witness the happy consummation of your plighted 
vows to each other ; it is now four o’clock in the even- 
ing, and, if you will allow me, I will fix the hour at 9 
o’clock this evening.” 

“With all our hearts,” we both replied, “it shall 
be as you and the young ladies wish. We avenged 
the deaths of your two sons, and now we do most 
cheerfully consecrate our sacred honor and our 
lives to your lovely daughters’ comfort and happi- 
ness.” 

Mrs. Dearing, though very weak, had listened 
attentively to all that was said, and smiled approval. 
No time to lose, we set about making hasty pre- 
liminaries for the nuptials. Referring the matter of 
who should perform the ceremonies to the young 
ladies, they made choice of Rev. Dr. Wentworth, 
pastor of the First Baptist Church. Bert volun- 
teered to interview the reverend gentleman and se- 
cure his services for the interesting occasion, and 
notify him of time and place, armed with the need- 
ful legal documents. Hasty verbal invitations were 
then extended to all that were present, with the re- 
quest to cordially invite all whom they should meet. 

An hour before the time set the house and prem- 
ises were packed with a host of friends of the young 
ladies and many of our old comrades in arms. At 
the hour appointed the nuptials were solemnized 
in due form in the room of the sick with a few 
witnesses. Our brides tenderly kissed father and 


i the rock 


mother, receiving their blessings. They said: “It 
is well.” 

Leaving the sick in the care of a trained nurse, all 
repaired to the great hall below to meet and receive 
the congratulations of our numerous friends. As 
the hours grew apace, the function augmented, new 
arrivals constantly coming into the already jammed 
apartments, which added new zest to the festivities 
of the occasion. Our young brides, whose popu- 
larity, beauty and graces were conceded by all, ran 
frequently up to the sick room to learn how the 
parents were resting, then returned to join the 
merry throng. One o’clock chimed the great clock 
on the wall of the drawing-room, and still no abate- 
ment of the guests or the exuberance of their hilar- 
ity, and on the hours sped. Tea was served, with 
cheese and cake, and quiet reigned. 

It was now 2:30 A. M., and the faithful nurse 
came tripping down the staircase and whispered to 
the brides that their mother had sent for them. The 
young ladies asked to be excused and darted up- 
stairs. Silence fell deep and painful on the vast as- 
semblage, where but a moment ago there had been 
rioting in pleasure. 

Bert and I followed, and Mrs. Bearing, with a 
smile of triumph in her eyes, said : “Good-bye, my 
dear children,” embracing and kissing each. She 
slept to wake no more on this plane of existence. 

Just one short hour after her death, Mr. Dear- 
nig’s spirit, too, had passed the portals of death 
into that mysterious spirit land. 

The sympathies of the whole city were emphati- 
cally expressed for the two daughters, and the ex- 
heroes of Luray were congratulated upon winning 


I THE ROCK 


m 

two amiable and lovely brides, who bore their be- 
reavement with resignation and Christian fortitude. 
The next day a double funeral was held at the First 
Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Wentworth, their pastor, 
officiating, in the presence of a large congregation 
of sympathizing friends, who came from the city 
and surrounding country. The funeral sermon I 
will not attempt to outline, but merely give the sub- 
ject and scriptural text. His subject was: “The 
triumph of the righteous.’ , Text: “Not a dog 
opened his mouth.” 

We remained a week in Charlottesville after the 
burial, receiving many tokens of love and friend- 
ship from the good people of the city and surround- 
ing country, while getting ready for our departure 
to Loveland to look for the hidden treasures and 
other matters concerning the estate of our brides. 
Of our coming, Joe, the faithful servant and 
ranchero, had been notified, and met us at the man- 
sion. Securing a span of spirited horses and closed 
carriage with driver, shipping our trunks to Stras- 
burg by rail, we bid a last farewell to our kind 
friends, whom we all esteemed highly, and hastened 
on to Loveland, to look upon the ruins of the once 
princely home and the scenes of the happy child- 
hood of our loving mates through life. Not through 
woods and fields, as we had left it, but over fine 
roads, in a comfortable carriage, by way of Front 
Royal, passing the identical spot, and in the pres- 
ence of Captain Blake, when we placed the rings 
on the hands of our former heroines and comrades, 
then under the banners of war, but now comrades 
in domestic peace, happiness and connubial bliss. 
We arrived at the ruins at three in the afternoon, 


i THE ROCK 


* 4 * 

and the sight that met our eyes was revolting in 
the extreme. Nothing remained but the tall brick 
chimneys, grim sentinels over the ruins of a once 
stately mansion and hospitable Southern home. We 
hesitated at the gate, and Joe met us. Thelma and 
Gladys, no longer able to restrin their feelings, 
broke forth in the most distressing anguish. All 
was waste, weeds and grass growing luxuriantly, 
where once were choice flowers and rare plants 
carefully watered and tended, the delight of their 
pwners. “All is gone,” cried Gladys, in great dis- 
tress ; and, with tears blinding her beautiful eyes, 
she would wander hither and thither in the vain 
hope of finding some flower as a souvenir of the 
wretched past. “Oh, how cruel ! But here is 
the place the monster, Colonel Spitzer, fell by my 
bullet. That is some recompense. Don’t you think 
so, Brady?” 

Bert and Thelma were in another part of the 
garden — once beautiful, walks, with all manner of 
rare plants and flowers, but now choked with nox- 
ious weeds and grasses ; she, too, with unspeakable 
distress, would say: “I can’t find anything I ever 
knew.” Gladys said to me: “Here was a verbena 
bed, and there pansies grew in profusion, and I 
know here it was I gathered violets ; and see my 
japonicas — nothing but blackened switches to show 
where they stood. Our men did not treat their 
women in that way, but conducted the war, cruel 
at best, in accordance with the highest principles 
of civilized enlightenment, not as brutes and bar- 
barians.” “Well, dears,” said Bert, “these things 
are in the past'; let us look to the future with hope, 
and all will be well.” 


142 


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“And now, Bert,” said I, “let us see if we can’ll 
find one thing that has not been polluted by the 
touch of our enemies. So we followed the instruc- 
tions given, and the sealed glass jar was revealed. 
It was carefully lifted and placed in a wheelbarrow 
and carried by Joe to the carriage. We told Joe 
to be on hand in the morning, when we would re- 
turn to visit “The Rock” once more. He had heard 
pi the death of his old master and mistress, but not 
of the marriages of his two young mistresses to the 
young soldiers, and that we were going to take 
them with us to Georgia. When told this, he said : 
“I, too, will go with you, and forever be your serv- 
ant.” We informed him that it was our intention 
to take him with us, and he should see the pretty 
cotton fields. 

Proceeding to Strasburg, we counted the con- 
tents of the jar, and found twenty thousand in gold, 
as Mr. Dearing had said ; we deposited it in the 
leading bank of the town. Taking rooms at the 

Hotel early next morning, we returned 

to the old home pointed out to Thelma and Gladys, 
the place where the four cavalrymen fell, and then 
the eight men sent out with cannon to dislodge us 
from “The Rock,” and nearer to the mansion the 
two graves of our first victims buried by the road- 
side. A strange coincidence of this trip was meet- 
ing the two old citizens who aided us in burying the 
two Yankees. 

Joe was early to meet us, and we made the ascent 
to “The Rock,” and, entering, found a few trinkets 
which we had left, a spoon, table knife and fork, a 
tin cup and a short piece of sperm candle sitting on 
a projecting rock from the wall, where we had placed 


I THE ROCK 


m 

it nearly eight months ago; all of which our brides 
took as souvenirs. They now delight in their exhi- 
bition, which they prize as precious heirlooms. Rey- 
nard, who by our forcible entry and detainer had 
been ejected, now resumed occupancy by right of dis- 
covery and title by prescription, never to be molested 
by us again. 

Descending the mountain, we went to where the 
old mansion had stood. The tall chimneys were soli- 
tary and spectre-like, silent though unimpeachable wit- 
nesses and monuments to the vandalism, wanton and 
cowardly, of the soldiers of these United States, and 
erected by their own hands, to the everlasting disgrace 
of the dead, and abhorrent to every impulse of brave 
men throughout Christendom. 

We told Joe that we would sell the entire premises 
when we reached Baltimore, as we had an offer from 
a gentleman there under consideration, and, if we 
made the deal, we would write him when to give pos- 
session and meet us at the Spotswood Hotel in Rich- 
mond. We would give him notice when we would 
arrive. And with these instructions, each of us gave 
him a ten-dollar gold piece, and, bidding him good- 
bye, we drove rapidly to Strasburg to catch the north- 
bound train. 


CHAPTER XXL 

THE BRIDAL TOUR AND TO GEORGIA. 

The last part of September in the valley was cool 
and the atmosphere bracing, making travel pleasant. 
,There was no incident worthy of note during the trip. 
It was our first bridal tour and without experience, 
and I hope it will be our last, as I do not want the 
necessity to present itself ever again. Our whole lives 
have been one long and continuous “bridal tour,” 
and the end is not yet ; neither do we want it to end. 
I wish every entry into the hymeneal state was one 
long journey in blissful contentedness and happiness. 

When we arrived at Baltimore, I saw a thing I had 
never dreamed of, and that was a posthumous wed- 
ding trousseau. Gladys and Thelma, not having time 
to make any preparations, so suddenly was the thing 
done, now must have each a trousseau, also traveling 
suits, etc. How lovely and charming they looked to 
us in their fine suits ! 

We had no trouble in disposing of the Dearing 
property at Loveland, also the ranch, realizing there- 
for fifty thousand dollars in cash. We took abstracts 
of the title while in Strasburg, and in two days the 
conveyances were executed and payment made, in ex- 
change on New York. Then we went to Washington, 
took in the Congress then in session, thence by 
steamer to New York, where we spent two weeks 
sight-seeing. Our programme included a trip up the 
*44 


THE ROCK ' 


*4S 

Hudson, and on to Quebec and Montreal in Canada; 
at the end of ten days returning to Niagara, Rochester 
and Buffalo; resting a few days, we sped on to Chi- 
cago, where we spent a week in that windy city. The 
weather getting too cold, joyfully we turned our faces 
southward, and arrived in Richmond on the 15th day 
of October, 1865, where we found Joe waiting for us. 

Boarding the Seaboard Air Line, and passing 
through Petersburg, where we had held the cohorts of 
Grant at bay so long, we thought of the mine set off 
under our lines, and the slaughter of negro troops 
who were rushed into the breach, filling the hole in 
the ground thirty feet deep and one hundred in diame- 
ter, while the Southern soldiers stood on the brink 
pouring a deadly fire into the writhing mass of contra- 
bands left by their white allies to our tender mercies. 

The limits of the grand old commonwealth were 
soon behind us, and on through the vast pine forest 
of North Carolina and turpentine fields we enter the 
cotton belt of the South, with vast fields of the 
snowy staple on each side of the road as far as the 
eye could reach ; our companions declared that it was 
the prettiest sight they had seen on the entire trip, 
and reminded them of a great snowstorm in the Luray 
Valley. 

Bradytown is a small city of five thousand people 
of the wealthier class of cotton farmers, who own 
plantations in the country cultivated by negroes un- 
der the supervision of the owners, who advance sup- 
plies to the laborers, and which is paid for out of their 
part of the products of the farm at harvest time. This 
system is preferable to owning the laborer. 

For two weeks the 19th of October had been agreed 
on as the time of our arrival home, of which notice 


146 


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had been given, and when the train slowed up at the 
depot the entire population met us to extend welcome 
and get a sight at our Virginia beauties. Both of our 
families had arranged for a joint reception at the 
writer’s father’s elegant old Southern home. To this 
we repaired. 

Bradytown had the streets nicely weeded and 
cleaned for the occasion ; the military company with 
band discoursing old Southern war songs ; a large 
contingent of ex-Confederates in the procession, giv- 
ing vent to their enthusiasm with an old-time rebel 
yell; the municipal and other civic authorities were 
in carriages. Children from the public and private 
schools, five hundred or more ; a large crowd of men 
and boys, noisy piccaninnies scampering along the 
streets whooping and shouting as they ran, completed 
the procession. 

On arriving home, which was situated in a beauti- 
ful grove of oaks, we entered the house, where the 
newcomers were warmly received and made welcome 
by their new fathers and mothers with true parental 
cordiality and affection ; and all members of both 
families showed great pleasure in meeting the new 
accessions to the households. Gladys said: “Brady, 
I am perfectly bewildered at the reception and amazed 
at the demonstration. It really frightened me as I 
passed along the streets. Why did you not tell us 
before we got here?” Thelma remarked to Mrs. Clax- 
ton: “The demonstrations are out of all proportion 
to the occasion.” A sister of Bert’s replied : “My dear 
Thelma, you have no just conception of the true worth 
of the two boys that you and Gladys have caught; 
later you will know.” 

The reception was elaborate, the crowds large, and 


THE ROCK 


14 7 

the function greatly enjoyed. It continued far into 
the night. 

Joe was beside himself, making the acquaintance 
of the inky-colored and kinky-wooled race. 

. The tender manifestations of love and sympathy 
extended Thelma and Gladys, the warm and sincere 
sympathy manifested by the members of both fam- 
ilies, intensified by the love and affection of their new 
parents, dissipated the poignancy of their late bereave- 
ment, and with Ruth-like devotion reciprocated with 
the fondest love and reverence; in contrast with the 
studied and silent dislike shown by many daughters- 
in-law of modern times for the mothers who bore in 
anguish and travail a boy child, and reared and trained 
to mature years for her companion. It seems to be 
the fad of these times for daughters-in-law to snub, 
sneer and find fault and gossip about the mothers of 
their husbands, and often, too, in their presence. 

What man who has any self-respect can sit un- 
moved and hear the gossipy innuendoes or downright 
veiled insinuations against the one around whom clus- 
ter the tenderest emotions of his soul, and not lose his 
respect for the speaker! Or how would she demean 
herself if he were to retaliate in kind. The vials of 
her wrath would burst in cyclonic force, and woe be- 
tide him! 

Settling down in our homes in the little city of 
Bradytown to start on the road in real life’s journey, 
content and happy in each other’s society, visiting 
Bert and Thelma often, and they in turn coming to 
see us, we prospered in basket and store. 

Time does not linger, and yet we are the same boys 
and girls as of yore that we were in the sixties, al- 
though the shuttle in the hands of the weaver has es- 


THE ROCK 


148 

sayed to trace a thread of silver in the raven-like 
tresses of both tourists ; still she is to me the same 
sweet being whom I met in the apple orchard in 
Luray Valley, Va., on that never-to-be-forgotten day 
in October, 1864; and, though her eyes are not as 
sparkling, face so fair, figure so rotund and girlish, 
or step so elastic, there is the same drowning element 
in her soft eyes ; her ringlets as fascinating as of old ; 
her step is graceful, carriage queenly. 

And while time was making the changes noted 
above, God blessed our home with four little bright- 
eyed darlings to cheer and comfort us when we enter 
the twilight zone of existence — two boys and two 
girls. And further on along the '‘bridal tour” come 
to our knees little boys and girls, saying in childish 
language and accents : “Bampa, tell us a war story.” 
Ah ! Happy us ! 

Strange coincidence, Bert and Thelma were alike 
blessed with two boys and two girls. Thelma and 
Gladys are loved and respected by all who know and 
come in contact with them. Kind, considerate, benevo- 
lent, sympathetic, relieving the poor, attending the 
sick, and leaders in every good work. Model house- 
keepers, delighting in the work of their hands, at- 
tending the wants of the children in motherly kind- 
ness and forbearance ; ruling their homes well. “Their 
children like olive plants round about their table.” 
Ideal women and hence ideal children. 

They have tamed the wild natures of their com- 
panions, without whose beautiful optimistic lives and 
refining influences of their presence we might have 
remained as the “unpolished ashlers” in the great 
human quarry. We have lived on adjoining planta- 
tions, visited often, and never has an unkind feeling 


THE ROCK 


•i 49 


arisen between us, nor a harsh thought of each other 
found expression, but an uninterrupted flow of good 
will and helpfulness, peace and prosperity during the 
lapse of forty-eight years; and still we are live, gay 
boys of sixty-nine summers. 

To gratify a boyish request, I here end the story 
of “The Rock,” a story of the war, and submit it, with 
a consciousness of its many imperfections, respect- 
fully and lovingly dedicated to the survivors of the 
war period and the children and grandchildren of all 
Confederate soldiers. 

Very affectionately, 

Bradfute Warwick. 




































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WAY 2! 1913 









